Information providing apparatus for performing data processing in accordance with order from user

ABSTRACT

This invention is a photosite which allows access from a cell phone to provide user-friendlier services. The photosite creates an ID (S 6501 ) and creates a character string Str from the ID by combining numerals and alphabetical characters by using a storage unit which stores buttons  0  to  9  of the cell phone and the number of alphabetical characters assigned to the respective buttons in correspondence with each other (S 6502 -S 6507 ). In this case, a character string is created such that any two consecutive characters are assigned to different keys.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an information providingapparatus which provides data processing services for users.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Recently, with improvements in communication infrastructures andadvances in information communication techniques, online informationproviding services which use the Internet and the like can be provided.Many of conventional systems for providing such services demand theinput of IDs from user terminals. If such an ID is constituted by onlynumerals, the ID can be easily input. In this case, however, as comparedwith a case wherein the same information is expressed by characters, thenumber of digits required becomes very large. This makes it inconvenientto notify or display the ID. In addition, the user has difficulty inmemorizing the ID.

[0003] Recently, therefore, many systems are designed to issue IDsconstituted by combinations of numerals and characters.

[0004] With improvements in communication infrastructures, users canaccess information providing systems even from terminals having nokeyboard, e.g., cell phones and fixed telephones, other than computers.

[0005] No conventional information providing systems, however, haveissued IDs in consideration of facilitating input from terminals withoutany keyboard.

[0006] When, for example, characters are to be input from a generaltelephone, three characters A, B, and C are assigned to the same buttonto which the numeral 2 is assigned. In general, when this button ispressed once, A is input; when pressed consecutively again, B is input;and when further pressed again, C is input. When a given button A ispressed several times first, and then another button B is pressed, acharacter assigned to the button A is input to the first character inputcolumn, and a character assigned to the button B is input to the nextcharacter input column. That is, when a different button is pressed,input by the preceding button is confirmed.

[0007] When a three-character string AEI is to be input by using such atelephone, the user presses button 2 once, button 3 twice, and button 4three times. That is, the character string AEI can be input by pressingnumeral buttons a total of six times. However, when a character stringABC, which is an alphabetical character string having the same number ofcharacters as that of the above character string, is to be input, theuser must presses buttons a total of eight times, i.e., once for button2, once for the move button for character input columns, twice forbutton 2, once for the move button for the character input columns, andthree times for button 2. That is, the input operation becomescomplicated by the degree to which the move button for the characterinput columns must be pressed.

[0008] In addition, different operations are required to move characterinput columns depending on the types of telephones, and the position ofthe move button is not fixed unlike the numeral buttons. It thereforetakes much time for a user to become accustomed to input operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention has been proposed to solve the aboveproblem in the prior art, and has as its object to provideuser-friendlier services.

[0010] According to the present invention, the foregoing object isattained by providing an information providing apparatus which can beconnected to an information processing apparatus, comprising: means forcreating numerical data; storage means in which types of a plurality ofkeys arranged in the information processing apparatus and the number andtypes of characters assigned to the respective keys are stored incorrespondence with each other; and creating means for creating acharacter string from the numerical data by combining the characters,wherein the creating means creates a character string, on the basis ofthe types of keys and the number and types of characters assigned to therespective keys which are stored in the storage means, such thatconsecutive two characters are assigned to the different keys.

[0011] According to the present invention, the foregoing object isattained by providing an information processing method using aninformation providing apparatus which can be connected to an informationprocessing apparatus and includes storage means in which types of aplurality of keys arranged in the information processing apparatus andthe number and types of characters assigned to the respective keys arestored in correspondence with each other; comprising: a step ofassigning unique numerical data to a user; and a creating step ofcreating a character string from the numerical data by combining thecharacters, wherein in the creating step, a character string is createdsuch that two consecutive characters are assigned to the different keys.

[0012] According to the present invention, the foregoing object isattained by providing a control program for controlling an informationprocessing apparatus which can be connected to an information processingapparatus and includes storage means in which types of a plurality ofkeys arranged in the information processing apparatus and the number andtypes of characters assigned to the respective keys are stored incorrespondence with each other, and processor; causing the processor toexecute: a step of assigning unique numerical data to a user; and acreating step of creating a character string from the numerical datasuch that two consecutive characters are assigned to the different keys.

[0013] Other features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a block diagram conceptually showing an informationproviding system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of theoverall information providing system according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a view showing a data table associated with customerinformation managed in a photosite according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a view showing a customer state table for managinginformation representing the current state of a user using the photositeaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a view showing a customer album data table managed inthe photosite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 6 is a view showing an album information data table managedin the photosite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 7 is a view showing an album image data table managed in thephotosite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 8 is a view showing an image information table managed in thephotosite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 9 is a view showing an order information table managed in thephotosite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 10 is a view showing an ordered image data table managed inthe photosite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 11 is a view showing an order settlement data table managedin the photosite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 12 is a view showing an orderer data table managed in thephotosite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 13 is a view showing a printsite data table managed in thephotosite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 14 is a view showing the contents of a database for managingphotosite information in a printsite according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0028]FIG. 15 is a view showing the contents of an order informationtable in a printsite according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0029]FIG. 16 is a view showing the contents of a print imageinformation table in a printsite according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0030]FIG. 17 is a view showing the contents of an order delivery tablein a printsite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0031]FIG. 18 is a view showing an example of the window to be displayedwhen a server service is started in the photosite according to theembodiment of the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing processing in the photosite whenuser registration is performed with respect to the information providingsystem according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 20 is a view showing a window for user registration withrespect to the information providing system according to the embodimentof the present invention;

[0034]FIG. 21 is a view showing the error window to be displayed whendata concerning a necessary item is not input at the time of userregistration in the photosite according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0035]FIG. 22 is a view showing an example of the error window to bedisplayed when a login name has already been registered at the time ofuser registration in the photosite according to the present invention;

[0036]FIG. 23 is a view showing a window for prompting a user to input apassword again at the time of user registration in the photositeaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0037]FIG. 24 is a view showing an example of the warning window to bedisplayed when a password is wrong at the time of user registration inthe information providing system according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0038]FIG. 25 is a view showing a user registration confirmation windowin the photosite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0039]FIG. 26 is a view showing an example of the contents of e-mailissued at the time of user registration in the photosite according tothe embodiment of the present invention;

[0040]FIG. 27 is a view showing an example of the window to be displayedwhen the user fails to log in on a service start window in the photositeaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0041]FIG. 28 is a view showing the window to be displayed when the userproperly logs in to the photosite according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0042]FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing processing associated with editoperation by the user in the photosite according to the embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0043]FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing a procedure for album editprocessing in the photosite according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0044]FIG. 31 is a view showing an album property setting window in thephotosite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0045]FIG. 32 is a view showing an album e-mail notification settingwindow in the photosite according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0046]FIG. 33 is a view showing an album delete confirmation window inthe photosite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0047]FIG. 34 is a flow chart showing processing associated with albumselection and display when one of album selection buttons is pressed inthe photosite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0048]FIG. 35 is a view showing an example of an album detailed displaywindow in the photosite according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0049]FIG. 36 is a flow chart showing a procedure for uploading imagesto a currently displayed/edited album in the photosite according to theembodiment of the present invention;

[0050]FIG. 37 is a view showing a warning window indicating that noimage can be uploaded in the photosite according to the embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0051]FIG. 38 is a view showing an uploaded image selection windowaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0052]FIG. 39 is a view showing the warning window to be displayed whena file other than images to be processed in the embodiment of thepresent invention is uploaded;

[0053]FIG. 40 is a flow chart showing processing for calculating thenumber of files that can be added according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0054]FIG. 41 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing among aclient PC, the photosite, and a printsite when a print order is to beplaced by using the photosite according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0055]FIG. 42 is a view showing a printsite selection window accordingto the embodiment of the present invention;

[0056]FIG. 43 is a view showing an image print order window according tothe embodiment of the present invention;

[0057]FIG. 44 is a view showing the estimate display window to bedisplayed when an image print order is placed according to theembodiment of the present invention;

[0058]FIG. 45 is a view showing the orderer information input displaywindow to be displayed when an image print order is placed according tothe embodiment of the present invention;

[0059]FIG. 46 is a view showing the destination information input windowto be displayed when an image print order is placed according to theembodiment of the present invention;

[0060]FIG. 47 is a flow chart showing the contents of temporary printorder issuing processing in the photosite according to the embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0061]FIG. 48 is a view showing the warning window to be displayed whenno image is selected at the time of print order processing according tothe embodiment of the present invention;

[0062]FIG. 49 is a flow chart showing the contents of display processingfor a print image selection window in a printsite according to theembodiment of the present invention;

[0063]FIG. 50 is a flow chart showing estimation calculation in aprintsite and notification of estimate information to the photositeaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0064]FIG. 51 is a flow chart showing processing in the photosite in theinterval between the instant at which the estimate notified from theprintsite is acquired and the instant at which a formal print order isissued according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0065]FIG. 52 is a view showing a benefit information setting window inthe photosite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0066]FIG. 53 is a view showing an example of the temporary print orderformat notified from the photosite to a printsite according to theembodiment of the present invention;

[0067]FIG. 54 is a view showing an example of the format of estimateinformation notified from the printsite to the photosite according tothe embodiment of the present invention;

[0068]FIG. 55 is a view showing an example of the formal print orderformat notified from the photosite to the printsite according to theembodiment of the present invention;

[0069]FIG. 56 is a view showing an example of the order contentsconfirmation window displayed in the information providing systemaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0070]FIG. 57 is a view showing an example of a service item data listin the printsite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0071]FIG. 58 is a view showing an example of a benefit list in theprintsite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0072]FIG. 59 is a view showing an example of the email to be notifiedwhen a print order is placed according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0073]FIG. 60 is a flow chart showing the details of formal print orderreception processing in the printsite according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0074]FIG. 61 is a view showing an example of album notification mailaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0075]FIG. 62 is a flow chart showing check digit embedding processingin the photosite according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0076]FIG. 63 is a view showing a list representing the relationshipbetween the buttons of a telephone and alphabetical characters input bypressing the buttons according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0077]FIG. 64 is a flow chart showing disclosure album ID creatingprocessing in the photosite according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0078]FIG. 65 is a flow chart showing the processing of associatingnumerals with alphabetical characters and calculating buttons of atelephone which can input the alphabetical characters;

[0079]FIG. 66 is a view showing an album browse start window in theinformation providing system according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0080]FIG. 67 is a view showing an album browse window in theinformation providing system according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0081]FIG. 68 is a flow chart showing the processing of checking the IDinput when the user tries to browse an album in the informationproviding system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0082]FIG. 69 is a view showing the window to be displayed when no albumis found which corresponds to the ID input at the time of album browsingin the information providing system according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0083]FIG. 70 is a view showing the first window to be displayed whenthe user browses an album through a portable phone in the informationproviding system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0084]FIG. 71 is a view showing the window to be displayed when the userbrowses an album from the portable phone in the information providingsystem according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0085]FIG. 72 is a view showing the first window to be displayed whenthe user browses an album from the portable phone;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0086] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.Note that the present invention is not limited to the relative positionsof constituent elements, display windows, and the like described in theembodiments unless otherwise specified.

First Embodiment

[0087] An information providing system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention which shares and provides digital image data throughthe Internet will be described.

[0088] In general, digital image information is provided by an imageinput device. The following is a background to this trend. With smoothdecreases in semiconductor device size, the part sizes and costs of LSIsand solid-state image sensing elements which constitute image inputdevices represented by digital still cameras and digital video camerashave been scaled down. As a consequent, image input devices forphotographing images have been widely used.

[0089] For example, the image data photographed by a digital camera isstored in a memory inside the digital camera. The data is thentransferred to a recording unit represented by an HDD or the like in apersonal computer owned by the user of the digital camera andmanaged/stored or is written in an external recording medium such as aCD-R and stored. With the widespread use of color scanners as well asdigital cameras, images can be easily created and stored as electronicdata.

[0090] In consideration of such a situation, the information providingsystem according to this embodiment includes an image service provider(to be referred to as a photosite hereinafter) and print serviceprovider (to be referred to as a printsite hereinafter). This photositeprovides services like keeping the image data photographed by usersusing image input devices in storage areas in servers on the Internetand allowing customers to browse the image data again at the time theyrequire it. The printsite prints out electronic documents such as NewYear's cards, wordprocessed documents, and images which are transferredthrough the Internet, and provides the printed matter as merchandise.

[0091] The photosite according to this embodiment does not provide anyprint service by itself but forms an affiliation with a printsite whichcan provide various print services and gives a print order to theprintsite.

[0092] <Outline of System>

[0093] An outline of the information providing system according to thisembodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a viewshowing how data are exchanged among a PC (Personal Computer) 102 (to bereferred to as a user PC hereinafter) or portable terminal 113 such as amobile phone, PDA, and so on, that is used by a user who receivesservices, a photosite 105 which manages images and personal informationof the user, and a printsite 109 which manages print processing andprint unit prices between the instant at which the user generates arequest to browse images and the instant at which printed matter isacquired.

[0094] In step S1, the user accesses a Web server 121 in the photosite105 by using a browser 120 of the user PC 102, and generates a requestto browse images stored in an image database (DB) 117 in the photosite105. In step S2, the photosite 105 displays images on the browser 120under a predetermined condition.

[0095] In step S3, the user selects an image to be printed out from theimages browsed on the browser 120. In step S4, the identificationinformation of the selected image is transferred from the photosite 105to the printsite 109 (temporary print order). The flow advances to stepS5, in which the printsite 109 adds information about a form (size andthe like) that can be printed out and causes a Web server 122 to presentthe user PC 102 with the information together with the image, therebyprompting the user to input a print form, a print count, and the like.

[0096] In step S6, when the user inputs a print form, a print count, andthe like for each selected image through the browser 120 and sends aprint instruction to the printsite 109, the printsite 109 calculates aprice (estimated price) requested to carry out the print instruction byusing a print information database 119 and price calculation module 110.

[0097] In step S7, when the printsite 109 temporarily transfers theestimated price to the photosite 105, the photosite 105 calculates aprice (offered price) on the basis of the estimated price factoring inthe personal information by using a personal information database 118and price calculation module 108.

[0098] In step S8, the photosite 105 causes the browser 120 of the userPC 102 to display the presented price by using the Web server 121.

[0099] In step S9, if the user approves the presented price and the userPC 102 returns an approval action to the photosite 105, a settlementmodule 107 serving as a settlement means receives this action andperforms settlement processing.

[0100] In step S10, the photosite 105 sends a formal print order to theprintsite 109. The printsite 109 sends the formal print order to theprintsite 109. Upon reception of the formal print order, the printsite109 performs printing in accordance with the formal print order by usingthe printing means owned by the printsite 109.

[0101] In step S11, the printsite 109 delivers printed matter 112obtained by printing to the destination designated by the user of theuser PC 102, who has generated the print request, by a transportationmeans of some kind.

[0102] <Arrangement of System>

[0103]FIG. 2 is a view showing the detailed arrangement of theinformation providing system according to this embodiment.

[0104] Reference numeral 101 denotes an image input apparatus whichconverts an optical image as image information into an electricalsignal, performs predetermined image processing, and records/reproducesthe resultant information as digital information. This image inputapparatus may be a digital still camera capable of photographing a stillimage and recording the image as image data or a digital video cameracapable of photographing a moving image and recording the image asmoving image data.

[0105] Reference numeral 102A denotes a user personal computer; and 116,a data transfer interface for transferring image data photographedbetween the image input apparatus 101 and the user PC 102A. The datatransfer interface 116 may be a wire interface represented by USB(Universal Serial Bus) or IEEE1394 or a wireless interface representedby IrDA or Bluetooth.

[0106] The image data photographed by the image input apparatus 101 andstored as digital information is transferred to a storage area in aninformation storage unit represented by the HDD of the user PC 102Athrough the data transfer interface 116. For image data transfer fromthe image input apparatus 101 to the user PC 102A, the following twocases are present. In the first case, in accordance with an instructionfrom the OS or special software installed in the user PC 102A, the imagedata stored in the image input apparatus 101 are transferred at once. Inthe second case, in response to the instruction of a transfer commandfrom the image input apparatus 101, the OS or special software in theuser PC 102A ensures a data recording area in the information storageunit in the user PC 102A and transfers the image data to the area.

[0107] A browser 120A having a standard protocol capable of transmittinginformation on the Internet 104 can run on the user PC 102A. With thisbrowser 120A, a user can access the photosite 105 using the standardprotocol such as HTTP protocol to display Web information created by adescription language such as HTML or XML. Web information is linked tomultimedia information such as images or sounds managed by sites on theInternet 104. With this operation, the user of the user PC 102A canreceive services provided by the photosite 105 using the Internet 104.

[0108] The image data photographed by the image input apparatus 101 andstored in the information storage are in the user PC 102A is transferredto the photosite 105 in accordance with a request from the user of theuser PC 102A (this transfer will be referred to as image uploadhereinafter). This method of uploading an image includes a method inwhich image data to be transferred is selected using the above browser120A and transferred in synchronism with the action of requesting imageupload and a method in which image data is directly selected andtransferred by using image upload software. Either method is executed onthe basis of a protocol usable on the Internet, e.g., HTTP or FTP. Aphoto sharing module 106 is a module which executes this series ofoperations in the photosite 105.

[0109] The photo sharing module 106 checks whether the uploaded imagedata is data that can be used in the photosite 105. If it is determinedthat the data can be used, the uploaded image data is stored in theimage database 117, and its attribute information or the like is storedin the database 118. The photosite 105 may put a plurality of uploadedimage data into one unit and manage it as an album for browsing.

[0110] In this stage, the photo sharing module 106 notifies the user PC102A that the image data is normally uploaded. The user of the user PC102A can upload image data through the Web browser in this manner.

[0111] In addition to the above attribute information of image data,various data are collectively managed in the database 118. For example,such data include the data of user attribute information registered inthe photosite 105 and the data of attribute information of a printsitewhich is requested to print out uploaded image data.

[0112] The flow of print order processing for uploaded image data willbe sequentially described next. The user of the user PC 102A can browsethe image data which is uploaded by himself/herself through the Webbrowser 120A. The methods of selecting images to be browsed include amethod of selecting images to be sequentially browsed image by image,and a method of registering a plurality of images as one album,selecting an album to be browsed from a plurality of albums, andselecting/browsing each image managed in the selected album.

[0113] The photosite 105 gives a print order for the image data uploadedfrom the user to a print provider which provides printouts of imagedata. This print provider is one of printsites 109A, 109B, and 109C. Forthe sake of illustrative convenience, only the three printsites areillustrated. However, the number of printsites is not specificallylimited and may be more than four.

[0114] The user of the user PC 102A selects image data which he/shewants to print out so as to purchase the printed matter as merchandisefrom the browse window of the uploaded images. The user then selects aprintsite to which he/she wants to give an order from the printsites109A, 109B, and 109C which the photosite 105 can provide. The userselects the printsite 109 to which he/she gives an order inconsideration of, for example, the services provided by each printsite109, unit price, and delivery time. For the sake of descriptiveconvenience, the following description will be made on the assumptionthat the user has selected the printsite 109A. Even if, however, theuser selects the printsite 109B or 109C, since the basic flow ofinformation remains the same, a description thereof will be omitted.

[0115] When the user selects image data for which he/she wants to give aprint order from the browse window, and notifies the photosite 105 ofthe corresponding information, the photosite 105 creates, in apredetermined form, a temporary print order associated with the imagedata for which the printout request has been given, and transmits itthrough the Internet 104, thereby requesting the printsite 109A to makean estimate.

[0116] Upon reception of the temporary print order from the photosite105, the printsite 109A acquires necessary image data from the imagedatabase 117 in the photosite 105 and creates selected imageinformation. By transmitting this selected image information to the userPC 102A through the Internet 104, the user can input a print form, aprint count, and the like for each selected image on the Web browser120A of the user PC 102A.

[0117] The printsite 109A calculates an estimated price by using a pricecalculation module 110A on the basis of the information such as theprint form and print count for each selected image, and transmits thecalculated estimated price to the photosite 105 through the Internet104.

[0118] The photosite 105 receives the information of the estimated pricetransmitted from the printsite 109A in real time. The photosite 105 thenchanges the received estimated price by using the price calculationmodule 108 in consideration of the personal information of the user.More specifically, the photosite 105 can accumulate “points” asalternative currency that functions as currency with respect to thephotosite 105 for each registered user. When the user is to use theaccumulated points, he/she can receive a discount on the print price inaccordance with the points.

[0119] The Web server 121 in the photosite 105 transfers the presentedprice based on the estimated price factoring in the points as Webinformation to the user PC 102A, thereby dynamically presenting theprice to the user who gives a print order.

[0120] That is, when the user selects image data for which he/she wantsto give a print order and the printsite 109 and inputs a print form, aprint count, and the like on the Web browser 120A of the user PC 102A, aprice required for the printing operation is quickly displayed.

[0121] When the user of the user PC 102A, who has given the print order,approves of purchasing the service at this presented price and returnsan approval action to the photosite 105, the settlement module 107serving as a settlement means receives this and performs settlementprocessing. When the settlement is completed, the photosite 105 sends aformal print order to the printsite 109A.

[0122] When the printsite 109A receives this formal print order, it isdetermined that the settlement is confirmed, and the flow advances toprint processing. In the print processing, first of all, the printsite109A acquires the image data required for printing out from the imagedatabase 117 in the photosite 105. The image data acquired in thismanner is printed out as printed matter 112A by a printer 111A connectedto the printsite 109A. The printed matter 112A is delivered, by sometransportation means, to the destination designated by the user of theuser PC 102A who has given the printout request. Referring to FIG. 2,the printer 111A is connected to the printsite 109A. However, thisprinter need not be connected to the printsite 109A as long as theprinter is under the control of the user of the printsite 109A.

[0123] The above description has been made on the outline of the systemdesigned to allow a user who has uploaded the image data photographed bythe image input apparatus 101 through the user PC 102A to browse theimage data in the photosite 105 and give a print order. In this case, asa terminal for uploading image data, a PC has been exemplified. However,the information providing system according to the present invention isnot limited to this. Image data may be uploaded from a portable terminalor may be directly uploaded from an image input apparatus such as adigital camera, digital video camera, scanner, or copying machine.

[0124] A method of allowing a person other than a user who has uploadedimage data in the photosite 105 to browse the image data uploaded in thephotosite 105 and stored in the database 117 through the Internet 104will be described next.

[0125] The photosite 105 provides the third party designated by a userwho has uploaded images with browse and print order services withrespect to the “uploaded images” or “album that manages a plurality ofuploaded images as one archive”. The user who has uploaded the imagedata in the photosite 105 notifies the photosite 105, by using the Webbrowser 120A, of the attribute information of a user (to be referred toas a browse user hereinafter) who is permitted to browse the images,e.g., the name of the browse user, and the e-mail address.

[0126] When disclosing images to the browse user, the photosite 105creates a URL (Universal Resource Locator) required for disclosure. Asthe URL to be created at this time, a unique address using a randomnumber or the like that cannot be uniquely predicted is assigned. Thefollowing is an example:

[0127] http://◯◯ ◯.com/PhotoSite/Album/AlbumEntry.cgi?AlbumID=AJNWDMF

[0128] (Such a URL that cannot be uniquely predicted will be referred toas a random URL hereinafter.)

[0129] The photosite 105 notifies the browse user of the random URLcreated in this manner by e-mail through the Internet 104 upon addingpassword information required for browsing to the e-mail as needed. Uponreception of the e-mail, the browse user accesses the Internet 104 froma user PC 102B, and inputs the random URL notified by the e-mail to aWeb browser 102B. This allows the browse user to browse the images andalbum designated by the user who has uploaded the images.

[0130] A method of allowing a browse user who uses the user PC 102B togive a print order for image data that can be browsed in this mannerwill be described next. The photosite 105 gives a print order for imagedata from the browse user to one of the printsites 109A, 109B, and 109Cwhich provide printouts of image data.

[0131] The browse user of the user PC 102A selects image data whichhe/she wants to print out so as to purchase the printed matter asmerchandise from the browse window. The browse user of the user PC 102Bthen selects the printsite 109 to which he/she wants to give an orderfrom the printsites 109A, 109B, and 109C which the photosite 105 canprovide. The browse user selects the printsite 109 to which he/she givesan order in consideration of, for example, the services provided by eachprintsite 109, unit price, and delivery time. For the sake ofdescriptive convenience, the following description will be made on theassumption that the user has selected the printsite 109B. Even if,however, the user selects the printsite 109A or 109C, since the basicflow of information remains the same, a description thereof will beomitted.

[0132] When the browse user selects image data for which he/she wants togive a print order from the browse window, and notifies the photosite105 of the corresponding information, the photosite 105 creates, in apredetermined form, a temporary print order associated with the imagedata for which the printout request has been given, and transmits itthrough the Internet 104, thereby requesting the printsite 109B to makean estimate.

[0133] Upon reception of the temporary print order from the photosite105, the printsite 109B acquires necessary image data from the imagedatabase 117 in the photosite 105 and creates selected imageinformation. By transmitting this selected image information to the userPC 102B through the Internet 104, the user can input a print form, aprint count, and the like for each selected image on the Web browser120B of the user PC 102B.

[0134] The printsite 109B calculates an estimated price by using a pricecalculation module 110B on the basis of the information such as theprint form and print count for each selected image, and transmits thecalculated estimated price to the photosite 105 through the Internet104.

[0135] The photosite 105 receives the information of the estimated pricetransmitted from the printsite 109B in real time. If the browse user hasno personal information, the estimated price transmitted from theprintsite 109B to the user PC 102B is transferred as Web information. Ifthe browse user has personal information, the presented price based onthe estimated price factoring in points is transferred as Webinformation, thereby dynamically presenting the price to the browse userwho has given the print order.

[0136] When the browse user of the user PC 102B, who has given the printorder, approves of purchasing the service at this presented price andreturns an approval action to the photosite 105, the settlement module107 serving as a settlement means receives this and performs settlementprocessing. When the settlement is completed, the photosite 105 sends aformal print order to the printsite 109B. The printsite 109B receivesthis formal print order and acquires the image data required forprinting out from the image database 117 in the photosite 105. The imagedata acquired in this manner is printed out as a printed matter 112B bya printer 111B serving as a printing means owned by the printsite 109B.The printed matter 112B is delivered, by some transportation means, tothe browse user of the user PC 102B who has given the printout request.

[0137] The photosite 105 can provide the portable terminal ownerdesignated by a user who has uploaded images with a service of making anotification of browsing of images (or an album) and browse function andprint order services. A user can also receives notification e-mailcontaining a URL for browsing an album through a portable terminal, andat the same time, can browse images or an album or give a print orderthrough the portable terminal (a user who uses the photosite 105 througha portable terminal will be referred to as a portable browse userhereinafter).

[0138] The use who has uploaded image data from the user PC 102A to thephotosite 105 through the Internet 104 notifies the photosite 105, byusing the Web browser 120A, of the attribute information of a user whois permitted to browse the images, e.g., the name of the browse user,and the e-mail address.

[0139] In disclosing images and an album to a portable browse user, thephotosite 105 creates a random URL necessary for disclosure. Thephotosite 105 notifies a portable terminal 113A of the portable browseuser of the random URL by using e-mail upon adding password informationnecessary for browsing, as needed. This email notified to the portablebrowse user is sent out from a mail distribution server in the photosite105 to a mobile network 114A, which can exchange various data with theportable terminal 113A, through the Internet 104 and an Internetconnection gateway 115A, and is transferred to the portable terminal113A. Upon reception of the e-mail, the portable browse user accessesthe photosite 105 through the route of the mobile network 114, Internetconnection gateway 115A, and Internet 104, by inputting the random URLaddress notified by the e-mail.

[0140] The photosite 105 has browser information dedicated to portableterminals, which is created by a description language dedicated toportable terminals, e.g., WML or CompactHTML, in addition to Webinformation created by a description language such as HTML or XML whichcan be displayed on the Internet 104. The photosite 105 also has imagedata resized to a size that can be displayed on the portable terminal113A. In accordance with a request from the portable terminal 113A, thephotosite 105 discriminates the model of the terminal, and transmitsinformation that can be displayed on the portable terminal 113A.According to an environment for portable terminals capable of browsing,pieces of browser information in various formats are prepared in thephotosite 105 to provide services for portable communication terminalsthat can browse the browser information, including not only the portableterminal 113A but also the portable terminal 113B that differs from theportable terminal 113A in communication protocol specifications,information description languages, and mobile network environments. Forthe sake of descriptive convenience, FIG. 2 shows only the two usableportable terminals, namely the portable terminals 113A and 113B.However, three or more portable terminals may be used.

[0141] A browse request from the portable terminal 113B is sent from amobile network 114B that can be used by the portable terminal 113B to anInternet connection gateway 115B. After protocol conversion, the requestis sent to the photosite 105 connected to the Internet 104. In additionto the Web display information created by a description language such asHTML or XML which can be browsed on the Internet 104, the photosite 105has the browser information created by a description language dedicatedto portable terminals, such as WML or CompactHTML by resizing image datato a size that can be browsed on the portable terminal 113B. Inaccordance with a request from the portable terminal 113B, the photosite105 discriminates the model of the terminal, and sends out informationthat can be browsed on the portable terminal 113B.

[0142] A method of allowing a portable browse user, i.e., the user ofthe portable terminal 113A or 113B, to select image data and give aprint order will be described next.

[0143] The transmission path of information between the photosite 105and the portable terminal 113A is photosite 105→Internet 104→Internetconnection gateway 115A→mobile network 114A→portable terminal 113A.

[0144] The portable browse user can browse the images or album designedby the user who has uploaded the images by inputting the random URLnotified by e-mail to the browser of the portable terminal.

[0145] The portable browse user selects a printsite to which he/shewants to give an order from the printsites 109A, 109B, and 109C whichthe photosite 105 can provide. The portable browse user selects theprintsite 109 to which he/she gives an order in consideration of, forexample, the services, unit price, and delivery time provided by eachprintsite 109. For the sake of descriptive convenience, the followingdescription will be made on the assumption that the user has selectedthe printsite 109C. Even if, however, the user selects the printsite109B or 109A, since the basic flow of information remains the same, adescription thereof will be omitted.

[0146] When the user selects image data for which he/she wants to give aprint order from the browse window, and notifies the photosite 105 ofthe corresponding information, the photosite 105 creates a temporaryprint order associated with the image data for which the printoutrequest has been given, and transmits it through the Internet 104,thereby requesting the printsite 109C to make an estimate.

[0147] Upon reception of the temporary print order from the photosite105, the printsite 109C acquires image data necessary for selectedwindow information from the image database 117 in the photosite 105 andcreates selected image information. By transmitting this selected imageinformation to the portable terminal 113A through the Internet 104, theportable browse user can input a print form, a print count, and the likefor each selected image on the portable terminal 113A..

[0148] The printsite 109C calculates an estimated price by using a pricecalculation module 110C on the basis of the information such as theprint form and print count for each selected image, and transmits thecalculated estimated price to the photosite 105 through the Internet104.

[0149] The photosite 105 receives the information of the estimated pricetransmitted from the printsite 109C in real time. If the portable browseuser has no personal information, the estimated price transmitted fromthe printsite 109C to the portable terminal 113A is transferred as Webinformation. If the portable browse user has personal information, thepresented price based on the estimated price factoring in points istransferred as Web information, thereby dynamically presenting the priceto the portable browse user who has given the print order.

[0150] When the portable browse user of the portable terminal 113A, whohas given the print order, approves of purchasing the service at thispresented price and returns an approval action to the photosite 105, thesettlement module 107 serving as a settlement means receives this andperforms settlement processing. When the settlement is completed, thephotosite 105 sends a formal print order to the printsite 109C. Theprintsite 109C receives this formal print order and acquires the imagedata required for printing out from the image database 117 in thephotosite 105. The image data acquired in this manner is printed out asprinted matter 112C by a printer 111C serving as a printing means ownedby the printsite 109C. The printed matter 112B is delivered, by sometransportation means, to the browse user of the portable terminal 113Awho has given the printout request.

[0151] The above description has been made on the outline of theinformation providing system designed to allow a user as the third partywho has received a permission to browse images or an album from a userwho has uploaded the images to browse the image data and give a printorder on the basis of the information received from the photosite 105.

[0152] <Arrangement of Database>

[0153] FIGS. 3 to 13 are views showing the contents of the database 118managed by the photosite 105 in this embodiment.

[0154]FIG. 3 is a view showing a data table associated with the customerinformation managed by the photosite 105 in this embodiment. When a userexecutes user registration, one record of a customer information datatable 400 is created and registered and managed and registered in thedatabase 118 to be managed. For a registered user, a unique user ID isdefined, and the user is managed on the database by the customerinformation data table 400 using a user ID 401 as a key. The informationmanaged as customer information includes a notification destination mailaddress 402, login name 403, password 404, name (last name) 405, name(first name) 406, phonetic transcriptions in kana (last name) 407,phonetic transcriptions in kana (first name) 408, zip codes (1, 2) 409and 410, municipal division code 411, addresses (1, 2) 412 and 413,telephone numbers (1, 2, 3) 414, 415, and 416, and user registrationstate 417. When the user registration state 417 is 1, it indicates thatthe user has already been registered and is allowed to use thephotosite. When this information is 0, it indicates that the use of thephotosite is inhibited.

[0155]FIG. 4 is a view showing a customer state table for managinginformation representing the current state of each user who uses thephotosite 105 in this embodiment. When the user executes userregistration, one record of a customer state data table 500 is createdand registered in the database 118 to be managed. Each set value in thisrecord is updated whenever necessary in accordance with the operationperformed by the user while using the photosite 105. When, therefore,the user logs in, the state set when the user used the photosite last isstored in the customer state data table 500. The data stored in thiscustomer state data table 500 include, by using a user ID 501 serving asa key, an album ID 502 of the album that was displayed last by the user,a maximum disc capacity 503, and a point 504 that is accumulated whenthe user gives a print order. With respect to the same user, the user ID501 and user ID 401 are equal in value.

[0156]FIG. 5 is a view showing the customer album data table managed bythe photosite 105 in this embodiment. When the user creates one newalbum while using the photosite 105, one record of a customer album datatable 600 is created and registered in the database 118 to be managed.When the user deletes an album, the corresponding record is deleted fromthe information database 118. The data stored in the customer album datatable 600 include, by using a user ID 601 of the registered user whichserves as a key, an album ID 602 of the album created by the user, and adisplay ordinal number 603 of the album. Note that with respect to thesame user, the user ID 601 and user ID 401 are equal in value.

[0157]FIG. 6 is a view showing the album information data table managedby the photosite 105 in this embodiment. When the user creates a newalbum while using the photosite 105, one record of an album informationdata table 700 is created and registered in the information database 118to be managed. When the user deletes this album, the correspondingrecord is deleted from the information database 118. The albuminformation data table 700 manages, by using an album ID 701 as a key,an album name 702, a file path 703 to a comment on the album, adisclosure permission/inhibition flag 704 for the album, a passwordpermission/inhibition flag 705, an album password 706, a printpermission/inhibition flag 707, an original image displaypermission/inhibition flag 708, and a display form number 709. If thedisclosure permission/inhibition flag 704 for the album is 1, itindicates that the album can be disclosed. If this flag is 0, itindicates the inhibition of disclosure. If the flag is −1, it indicatesthat the disclosure of the album is inhibited by the managing operatorof the photosite. If the password permission/inhibition flag 705 is 1,it indicates the presence of a password. If this flag is 0, it indicatesthe absence of a password. If the password permission/inhibition flag705 is 1, the password is stored in the album password 706. If the printpermission/inhibition flag 707 is 1, it indicates the album can beprinted. If this flag is 0, it indicates that the album cannot beprinted. If the original image display permission/inhibition flag 708 is1, it indicates that display operation can be done. If this flag is 0,it indicates that display operation cannot be done. If the display formnumber 709 is 1, it indicates that the album is displayed in the form ofa list. If this flag is 2, it indicates that the album is displayed indetail. Note that with respect to the same album, the value stored inthe album ID 701 is equal to that in the album ID 602.

[0158]FIG. 7 is a view showing the album image data table managed by thephotosite 105 in this embodiment. Every time the user uploads one imageonto an album, one record of an album image data table 800 is increasedand registered in the information database 118 to be managed. When animage is deleted, the corresponding record is deleted from theinformation database 118. The data managed in the album image data table800 include an image ID 802 of an image stored in an album ID 801 and animage display number 803 indicating the display position of the image inthe album. Note that with respect to the same album, the ID stored inthe album ID 801 is equal to that in the album ID 701.

[0159]FIG. 8 is a view the image information data table managed by thephotosite 105 in this embodiment. Every time the user uploads an imageonto an album, one record of an image information data table 900 iscreated and registered in the information database 118 to be managed.When an image is deleted, the corresponding record is deleted from theinformation database 118. The data stored in the image information datatable 900 includes, by using an image ID 901 serving as a key, a user ID902 of the user who owns the image, an image name 903, a file path 904to the original image, a file path 905 to a thumbnail file, a file path906 to a display image, a path 907 to a comment file to the image, animage browse count 908, and an image print count 909. With respect tothe same image, the value stored in the image ID 901 is equal to that inthe image ID 802. With respect to the same user, the value stored in theuser ID 902 is equal to that in the user ID 401.

[0160]FIG. 9 is a view showing the order information data table managedby the photosite 105 according to this embodiment. When a print orderfor an album is placed, one record of an order information data table1000 is created per order and registered in the database 118 to bemanaged. The data stored in the order information data table 1000includes, by using an order number 1001 serving as a key which is issuedfor each print order, an orderer ID 1002, a receiver name 1003,destination zip codes (1, 2) 1004 and 1005, destination municipal code1006, destination addresses (1, 2) 1007 and 1008, destination telephonenumbers (1, 2, 3) 1009, 1010, and 1011, a printsite ID 1012, an orderdate 1013, and an order status 1014. If the order status 1014 is 0, itindicates that no order has been given to the printsite. If it is 1, itindicates that an order has been given to the printsite. If it is 2, itindicates that delivery has done.

[0161]FIG. 10 is a view showing the ordered image data table managed bythe photosite 105 according to this embodiment. When a print order foran album is placed, records are created in an ordered image data table1100 in number equal to the number of images notified from the photosite105 to the printsite 109 in the process of giving the print order andregistered in the database 118 to be managed. The ordered image datatable 1100 manages, by using an order number 1101 as a key, a receiptnumber 1102 of the printsite 109, an image number 1103 managed on aprint order basis, file paths 1104, 1105, and 1106 to a thumbnail imagecopied for a print order, an original image, and an image for previewdisplay, a print count 1107, a print size 1108, a print type 1109, andan image ID 1110. “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, and “5” set in the print size 1108respectively indicate L size, 2L size, postal card size, postcard size,and A4 size. “0” and “1” set in the print type 1109 respectivelyindicate a brimless print and brimmed print. With the respect to thesame order, the number stored in the order number 1101 is equal to thatin the order number 1001. The image ID 1110 indicates the image IDbefore coping, and in which the same value as that in the image ID 901is held.

[0162]FIG. 11 is a view showing the order settlement data table managedby the photosite 105 according to this embodiment. One record of anorder settlement data table 1200 is created per print order for an albumand registered in the database 118 to be managed. The order settlementdata table 1200 manages, by using an order number 1201 as a key, asettlement method 1202, a total price 1203, a print price 1204, a printprice benefit 1205, a print tax charge 1206, a delivery charge 1207, adelivery tax charge 1208, a photosite benefit 1209, and a status 1210.In the settlement method 1202, “1” indicates transfer; “2”, cash ondelivery; and “3”, “credit settlement”. This embodiment will exemplifyonly the flow of processing for credit settlement. If the status 1210 is0, it indicates the completion of settlement. If this status is 1, itindicates an incomplete transaction. With respect to the same order, thevalue stored as the order number 1201 is equal to that stored as theorder number 1001.

[0163]FIG. 12 is a view showing the orderer data table managed by thephotosite 105 according to this embodiment. One record of an ordererdata table 1300 is created per print order for an album and registeredin the database 118 to be managed. The orderer data table 1300 manages,by using an orderer ID 1301 as a key, a user ID 1302, a notificationdestination mail address 1303, a name (last name) 1304, a name (firstname) 1305, a phonetic transcriptions in kana (last name) 1306, phonetictranscriptions in kana (first name) 1307, zip codes (1, 2) 1308 and1309, a municipal division code 1310, addresses (1, 2) 1311 and 1312,and telephone numbers (1, 2, 3) 1313, 1314, and 1315. If the orderer isnot a registered user of the photosite, 0 is assigned to the user ID1302. With respect to the same order, the ID stored in the orderer ID1301 is identical to that in the orderer ID 1002. If the orderer is amember of the photosite, the same ID is stored in the user ID 1302 anduser ID 401 with respect to the same orderer. In this case, as therespective pieces of user information in the fields 1303 to 1315, thevalues input as the corresponding pieces of user information in thecustomer information data table 400 having the same user ID 401 arecopied.

[0164]FIG. 13 is a view showing the printsite data table managed by thephotosite 105 according to this embodiment. When a new printsite thatcan be connected to the photosite 105 is constructed, a new record of aprintsite data table 1400 is created and registered in the database 118to be managed. The printsite data table 1400 manages, by using aprintsite ID 1401 as a key, a provider name 1402, a URL 1403 to a CGI(Common Gateway Interface) for notifying a temporary print order, a URL1404 to a CGI for notifying a formal print order, and a URL 1405 to aCGI for order cancellation.

[0165] FIGS. 14 to 17 are views showing the contents of databases 119A,119B, and 119C managed by the printsites 109A, 109B, and 109C in thisembodiment. Note that since the printsites 109B and 109C have the samearrangement as that of the printsite 109A, only the arrangement of theprintsite 109A will be described below.

[0166]FIG. 14 is a view showing the contents of the database formanaging the information of the photosite 105 which the printsite 109Ahas in this embodiment. When a photosite 105 which can give an order tothe printsite 109A is constructed, a new record of a photosite datatable 1500 is created and registered in the database 119A. The photositedata table 1500 manages a photosite ID 1501, a photosite name 1502, aURL 1503 to a CGI for notifying an estimate, a URL 1504 to a CGI fornotifying exceptional processing such as deletion of an order orchanging of a price, and a URL 1505 to a CGI for notifying a printstatus.

[0167]FIG. 15 is a view showing the contents of an order data tablewhich the printsite 109A according to this embodiment has. Every time atemporary print order is issued from the photosite 105, one record of anorder data table 1600 is created and registered in the database 119A tobe managed. When the photosite 105 notifies an order delete request forthis record, it is deleted from the database 119A. The order data table1600 in the printsite 109A manages a receipt number 1601, a photosite ID1602 of the photosite 105 which has issued an order, an order number1603 of the photosite 105, a temporary print order date 1604, a formalprint order date 1605, an order status 1606, a print type 1607 to be setwhen a print order is placed, a print price 1608, a printsite bargainprice 1609, a print tax charge 1610, a delivery charge 1611, a deliverytax charge 1612, and a total price 1613. If the order status 1606 is 0,it indicates a temporary print order. If this status is 1, it indicatesthat a formal print order is placed but printing has not been done. Ifthe status is 2, it indicates that a formal print order is placed andprinting has been done. It the status is 3, it indicates that deliveryhas been done. If the status 4, it indicates that settlement has beenmade. If the print type 1607 is 0, it indicates a brimless print. If itis 1, it indicates a brimmed print.

[0168]FIG. 16 is a view showing the contents of a print imageinformation table 1700 which the printsite 109A according to thisembodiment has. When a temporary print order is issued from thephotosite 105, records of a print image information table 1700 which theprintsite 109A has are created in number corresponding to the imageinformation contained in the order and registered in the database 119Ato be managed. When an order delete request is notified from thephotosite 105, the corresponding record is deleted from the database119A. The print image information table 1700 in the printsite manages areceipt number 1701, an image number 1702, a URL 1703 on the photosite105 which is used to acquire a print image file, a URL 1704 on thephotosite 105 which is used to acquire a preview display image file, aURL 1705 on the photosite 105 which is used to acquire a thumbnail imagefile to be displayed on a print order window when a temporary printorder is placed, a print count 1706, a print size 1707, a print status1708, and a print unit price 1709. The images sent from the photosite105 are numbered when a temporary print order is placed, with the firstimage being numbered 1. This number is stored in the image number 1702.“1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, and “5” set in the print size 1707 respectivelyindicate L size, 2L size, postal card size, postcard size, and A4 size.If the print status 1708 is 0, it indicates that the image has not beenprinted. If this status is 1, it indicates that the image has beenprinted. With respect to the same print order, the number stored in thereceipt number 1701 is equal to that in the receipt number 1601.

[0169]FIG. 17 is a view showing the contents of an order delivery tablewhich a printsite has. When a formal print order is notified from thephotosite 105, one record of an order delivery table 1800 is created andregistered in the database 119A to be managed. The order delivery table1800 in the printsite manages an order number 1801, a receiver name1802, destination zip codes (1, 2) 1803 and 1804, a destinationmunicipal code 1805, destination addresses (1, 2) 1806 and 1807,destination telephone numbers (1, 2, 3) 1808, 1809, and 1810, a deliverydate 1811, and a status 1812. If the status 1812 is 0, it indicates thatdelivery has not been done. If this status is 1, it indicates thatdelivery has been done.

[0170] <Outline of Services>

[0171] The following services can be realized by the above systemaccording to this embodiment:

[0172] (1) user registration: performing registration for the use of thephotosite 105 by using the user PC 102A and making the photosite 105issue a user ID to the registered user;

[0173] (2) image data upload: transferring images from the user PC 102Ato the photosite 105;

[0174] (3) print order: sending an instruction to print image data fromthe user PC 102A to the photosite 105 and printing an image through theprintsite 109A;

[0175] (4) notification of browse permission: sending e-mail from theuser PC 102A to the user PC 102B to permit the browsing of image datastored in the photosite 105;

[0176] (5) browsing of image data: allowing a user to browse image datastored in the photosite 105 through the user PC 102B; and

[0177] (6) browsing of images from portable terminal: allowing a user tobrowse image data stored in the photosite 105 through the portableterminal 113A.

[0178] The contents of the respective services will be described indetail below. Note that the services and functions realized by thesystem according to this embodiment are not limited those describedabove.

[0179] <Entrance of Photosite>

[0180]FIG. 18 shows an example of the window to be displayed first whena user tries to receive a service from the photosite 105 according tothis embodiment.

[0181] HTML data for displaying a window 1900 is stored in a storagemedium in the photosite 105. This data can be freely downloaded throughthe Internet 104. When, therefore, the user activates the Web browser120A in the user PC 102A and designates a URL representing the addressof a Web server, the window 1900 shown in FIG. 18 is displayed.

[0182] The areas and buttons arranged on the window 1900 are a userregistration button 1901, a login name input area 1902 which is usedwhen the user having undergone user registration uses the photosite 105,a password input area 1903, a login button 1904, an album ID input area1905 for album browsing, an album browse button 1906, a print order IDinput area 1907 for checking the status of a print order, and a printorder confirmation button 1908.

[0183] The processing to be performed when each button on the window1900 is pressed will be described below.

[0184] <User Registration>

[0185] A procedure for user registration will be described first. Whenthe user registration button 1901 on the window 1900 is pressed, theprocessing shown in the flow chart of FIG. 19 is performed. FIG. 19shows the flow chart representing processing in the photosite 105 at thetime of user registration. When the user registration button 1901 on thewindow 1900 is pressed, a window 2100 shown in FIG. 20 is displayed, anduser registration processing is started (step S2001).

[0186] The window shown in FIG. 20 is a window for performing userregistration in this embodiment. This window includes a notificationdestination address input area 2101 for a user to be registered, a loginname input area 2102 for the user, a password input area 2103, nameinput areas 2104 and 2105, input areas 2106 and 2107 for the phonetictranscriptions of the name in kana, zip code input areas 2108 and 2109for the user to be registered, a municipal division selection area 2110,address input areas 2111 and 2112, and telephone number input areas2113, 2114, and 2115. Although not shown in FIG. 19, when a cancelbutton 2117 is pressed, the window 1900 is restored without performinguser registration processing.

[0187] When the registration button 2116 is pressed, it is checked instep S2002 whether data concerning necessary items have been input.Assume that in this embodiment, the necessary items are the mail address2101, login name 2102, password 2103, name (2104 and 2105), andtelephone numbers 2113, 2114, and 2115.

[0188] If it is determined that data concerning the necessary items havenot been completely input in the photosite 105, an error window isdisplayed in step S2003. FIG. 21 is a view showing an error window 2200to be displayed at this time. When an OK button 2201 is pressed, thewindow 2100 is displayed again.

[0189] If it is determined in step S2002 that data concerning thenecessary items have been input, the photosite 105 searches the customerinformation data table 400 in the database 118 (step S2004) to checkwhether the login name input in the input area 2102 has already beenused (step S2005).

[0190] If the login name input in the input area 2102 has already beenused, an error window is displayed in step S2006. FIG. 22 shows an errorwindow 2300 displayed at this time. If an OK button 2301 is pressed, thewindow 2100 is displayed again.

[0191] If the login name input in the input area 2102 is not found inthe database 118, a window 2400 shown in FIG. 23 is displayed to promptthe user to input a password again (step S2007). If a cancel button 2403is pressed, the registration processing is interrupted, and the window2100 is displayed, although not shown in FIG. 19.

[0192] If an OK button 2402 is pressed, it is checked whether thepassword input in a password input area 2401 coincides with the passwordinput in the password input area 2103 on the window 2100 (step S2008).

[0193] If it is determined in step S2008 that the input password differsfrom the input characters, an error window 2500 shown in FIG. 24 isdisplayed (step S2009). If an OK button 2501 on this window is pressed,the window 2400 is displayed again.

[0194] If it is determined in step S2008 that the input passwordscoincide with each other, the flow advances to step S2010 to display auser information confirmation window 2600 shown in FIG. 25, determiningthat all the information necessary for user registration is input. Theinformation displayed on the window 2100 is the information input by theuser. If a correction button 2602 is pressed, the flow returns to stepS2001 to display the window 2100 again to allow the user to edit inputinformation.

[0195] If a confirmation button 2601 is pressed, the maximum value ofthe values of user IDs issued in the past is acquired from the customerinformation data table 400 in the database 118. The value obtained byadding 1 to the acquired value is the user ID of the user to be newlyregistered (step S2012).

[0196] In step S2013, a new customer information data table 400 iscreated on the basis of the user ID obtained in step S2012, and theinformation input on the window 2100 is registered in the customerinformation data table 400. That is, the contents of the input areas2101, 2102, 2103, 2104, 2105, 2106, 2107, 2108, 2109, 2110, 2111, 21112,2114, and 2115 shown in FIG. 20 are respectively stored in the fields402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415,and 416 shown in FIG. 3. In addition, the user registration state 417 isset to 1.

[0197] When a user is newly registered, there are no album created bythe user or uploaded image. When a user is newly registered, one each ofrecord of the customer album data table 600 shown in FIG. 5 and albuminformation data table 700 shown in FIG. 6 may be created and registeredin the database 118 in advance. In this case, the value obtained byadding one to the maximum value of the album IDs that have been issuedso far by the database 118 is set in the album ID 602. In addition, 1 isset in the display ordinal number 603, and a temporary album name, e.g.,“my album”, may be set as a default. In addition, obviously, the initialvalues determined by the photosite 105 are set in the album informationdata table 700.

[0198] When registration in the database 118 is completed, e-mail havingthe same contents as those displayed on the window 2600 in FIG. 25 iscreated and transmitted to the e-mail address registered in the customerinformation data table 400 in FIG. 3 (step S2014). FIG. 26 shows anexample of the contents of the e-mail issued at this time.

[0199] <Login>

[0200] A procedure for allowing a user having undergone userregistration for the photosite 105 to actually receive a service fromthe photosite 105 will be described next. Assume that in thisembodiment, all the images uploaded by users are managed in thephotosite 105 on a folder (called an album) basis.

[0201] When the user inputs a login name and password in the login nameinput area 1902 and password input area 1903, respectively, and pressesthe login button 1904, the photosite 105 searches the customerinformation data table 400 in the database 118. Assume that nocorresponding login name is found in the customer information data table400 or the password in the found record differs from the characterstring input in the password input area 1903. In this case, a warningwindow 2800 shown in FIG. 27 is displayed. If a button 2801 is pressedat this time, the window 1900 is displayed again.

[0202] If the password for the found record coincides with the characterstring input in the input area 1903, it is determined that the photositeinput user is properly authenticated, and a window 2900 shown in FIG. 28is displayed.

[0203] On the window 2900, a button 2901 is a button for changing userinformation. A button 2902 is a logout button. Buttons for editoperation for the album displayed on this window are arranged in an area2903. A button 2904 is a button for setting the properties of an album.A button 2905 is an album notification button. A button 2906 is a buttonfor newly creating an album. A button 2907 is a button for deleting analbum. A button 2908 is a button for uploading image data. A button 2909is a print order button. An area 2910 is an area in which buttons foralbum selection are displayed. On the head portion of this area, thedata sizes of images stored in the photosite are displayed, togetherwith its ratio to the allowable capacity. Buttons equal in number to thealbums created by the user are arranged below the head portion.

[0204] Referring to FIG. 28, buttons 2911 to 2915 indicate that fivealbums were created by the user. When a given one of the buttons ispressed, the photosite 105 changes the images displayed in an albumdisplay area 2923 in accordance with the selected album, and displaysthe album name of the album on the upper left end of the album displayarea. An area 2916 is an area in which buttons for editing therespective images in the album are arranged. When a given one of buttons2917 to 2922 is pressed, edit processing corresponding to the pressedbutton is performed for one of the images displayed in the album displayarea 2923 which corresponds the check box that is checked. The area 2923is an album image display area. In this area, the images stored in thealbum are sequentially displayed, and check boxes corresponding to theimages are arranged. When a displayed image is pressed, a propertysetting window for the image is displayed.

[0205]FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing a processing method for editoperation by a user after the window 2900 in FIG. 28 is displayed. Thefollowing processing is performed in accordance with user operation onthe window 2900.

[0206] When a user input is received in step S3001, it is checked instep S3002 whether the user input is an album edit instruction. If abutton in the area 2903 on the window 2900 is pressed, it is determinedthat the input is an album edit instruction. In this case, the flowadvances to album edit processing in step S3003.

[0207] If it is determined in step S3002 that the user instruction isnot an album edit instruction, the flow advances to step S3004 to checkwhether the user input is an image edit instruction. If a button in thearea 2916 on the window 2900 is pressed, it is determined that the inputis an image edit instruction, and the flow advances to step S3005. Instep S3005, processing like rotating 90° clockwise/counterclockwise,deleting, moving, copying, or changing the order is performed for theimage selected in the album.

[0208] If it is determined in step S3004 that the user input is not animage edit instruction, the flow advances to step S3006 to check whetherthe user input is a user information edit instruction. When the button2901 on the window 2900 is pressed, it is determined that the input is auser information edit instruction. When this button is pressed, thewindow 2100 shown in FIG. 20 is displayed in step S3007 to allow theuser to change the registered information. The user information editprocessing in this case is almost the same as the user registrationprocessing described in <User Registration> except that the pieces ofinformation registered by the user are displayed as initial values whenthe window is displayed, the window 2900 is displayed when theregistration button 2116 or cancel button 2117 is pressed, andregistration of user information in the database amounts to the updatingof existing user information instead of the registration of newinformation.

[0209] If it is determined in step S3006 that the user input is not auser information edit instruction, the flow advances to step S3008 tocheck whether the user input is an image selection instruction. If theuser selects an image in the area 2923 on the window 2900 by, forexample, clicking on the image with a mouse, it is determined that animage is selected, and the flow advances to image property editprocessing in step S3009. As image property edit processing, editing ofan image file or comment can be done.

[0210] If it is determined in step S3008 that the user instruction isnot an image selection instruction, the flow advances to step S3010 tocheck whether the user instruction is an album selection instruction. Ifa button in the area 2910 on the window 2900 is pressed, it isdetermined that an album is selected, and album display processing instep S3011 is performed.

[0211] If it is determined in step S3010 that the user input is not analbum selection instruction, it is checked in step S3012 whether theuser instruction is a logout instruction. If the button 2902 on thewindow 2900 is pressed, it is determined that the user input is a logoutinstruction, and the flow advances to step S3010 to perform logoutprocessing. In performing logout processing, the photosite 105 registersthe currently displayed album ID in the last display album ID 502 in thecustomer state data table 500 in the database 118, thus updating thealbum ID. The displayed window is then restored to the window 1900.

[0212] If it is determined in step S3012 that the user input is not alogout instruction, the flow returns to step S3001 to wait for the nextuser input.

[0213] Step S3003 (album edit processing) and step S3011 (album displayprocessing) will be described in detail below.

[0214] Album Edit Processing

[0215]FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing a procedure for album editprocessing in the photosite 105.

[0216] It is checked in step S3101 whether property setting is selected.If the button 2904 on the window 2900 is pressed, it is determined thatproperty setting is selected, and the flow advances to step S3102 todisplay a window 3200 shown in FIG. 31 to allow the user to set variousattributes associated with the selected album (the album displayed inthe album display area 2923 in FIG. 29 immediately before thisoperation).

[0217] If it is determined in step S3101 that property setting is notselected, the flow advances to step S3103 to check whether albumnotification is selected. If the button 2905 on the window 2900 ispressed, it is determined that album notification is selected, and theflow advances to step S3104 to display a window 3300 shown in FIG. 32 toallow the user to make settings to notify, by e-mail, the third party ofa method of browsing the selected album.

[0218] If it is determined in step S3103 that album notification is notselected, it is checked in step S3105 whether creation of a new album isselected. If the button 2906 on the window 2900 is pressed, it isdetermined that creation of a new album is selected, and the flowadvances to step S3106 to display a window 3200 shown in FIG. 31. If anew album name (an album name that has not been registered by the loginuser) is input in an album name input area 3201 on the window 3200 and asetting button 3208 is pressed, a new album is created.

[0219] If it is determined in step S3105 that creation of a new album isnot selected, it is checked in step S3107 whether deletion of an albumis selected. If the button 2907 on the window 2900 is pressed, it isdetermined that deletion of an album is selected, and the flow advancesto step S3108. If the button 2907 is pressed, a window 3400 shown inFIG. 33 is displayed to allow the user to delete the selected album.

[0220] If it is determined in step S3107 that deletion of an album isnot selected, it is checked in step S3109 whether uploading of an imageto a selected album is selected. If the button 2908 on the window 2900is pressed, it is determined that uploading of an image is selected, andthe flow advances to step S3110 to perform upload processing.

[0221] If it is determined in step S3109 that uploading of an image toan album is not selected, it is checked in step S3111 whether printorder processing for an album is selected. If the button 2909 on thewindow 2900 is pressed, it is determined that print order processing foran album is selected, and the flow advances to step S3112 to performprint order processing.

[0222] Album Display Processing

[0223]FIG. 34 is a flow chart showing processing associated withselection and display of an album when one of the album selectionbuttons 2911 to 2915 in the album selection area 2910 on the window 2900is pressed.

[0224] It is checked in step S3501 which ordinal number the pressedbutton has with respect to the head of the group of buttons, and thedatabase 118 is searched for the customer album data table 600 havingthis number in the display ordinal number 603. The album ID 601 is thenacquired as AlbumID. The album information data table 700 is specifiedfrom the album ID 601, thereby deriving album information.

[0225] In step S3502, the database 118 is searched for all the recordsin the album image data table 800 having AlbumID obtained in step S3501in the album ID 801. The number of hits, i.e., found records, isrepresented by N, and 1 is assigned to an image count process variableI.

[0226] It is checked in step S3503 whether I≦N. The processing from stepS3504 to step S3509 is repeated while I≦N, thus displaying all theimages within the album.

[0227] In step S3504, the album image data table 800 having I in theimage display number 803 is searched with the records found in the stepS3502, and the image ID 802 of the image is obtained. When the image ID802 is obtained, the database 118 is searched for a record in the imageinformation data table 900 having the image ID 802 in the image ID 901.

[0228] In step S3505, the path 905 to a thumbnail file of images isacquired from the record found in step S3504.

[0229] In step S3506, it is checked whether the value of the displayform number 709 in the album information data table 700 acquired in stepS3501 is 1. In this embodiment, if this value is 0, it indicatesthumbnail display. If the value is 1, it indicates detailed display.

[0230] If the display form number 709 is 1 in step S3506, the thumbnailimages and the detailed information associated with the images aredisplayed in step S3507. In this embodiment, as the detailedinformation, the image names, comments, browse counts, and print countsfrom the image information data table 900 are displayed, together withcheck boxes for image edit processing. A window 3600 shown in FIG. 35 isan example of album display when detailed display is performed. Sincethis window 3600 is the same in function as the window 2900 except forthe display method of the album display area 2923, a detaileddescription thereof will be omitted.

[0231] If it is determined in step S3506 that the display form number709 is not 1, thumbnail images, image names, and image edit check boxesare displayed in step S3508. The window 2900 shown in FIG. 28 is anexample of such a simple display.

[0232] If it is determined in step S3503 that I>N, since all the imagesin the album are displayed, the processing is terminated.

[0233] In the above embodiment, only the two display forms aredescribed. Obviously, however, more display forms may be used.

[0234] <Image Upload>

[0235] Image upload processing with respect to a selected album will bedescribed next. When the upload button 2908 on the window 2900 ispressed, image upload processing is started. FIG. 36 is a flow chartshowing the flow of the processing of uploading images to a selectedalbum.

[0236] First of all, when the button 2908 on the window 2900 is pressed,the photosite 105 calculates the number of files (Files) which the loginuser can add in the photosite 105. Since the resources of the photosite105 are limited, each login user can store images only to apredetermined capacity. No image file can be uploaded beyond thiscapacity.

[0237] Whether uploading can be done is determined by checking in stepS3702 whether “Files” is a positive integer. If “Files” is less thanone, it is determined that uploading cannot be done, a window 3800 shownin FIG. 37 is displayed (step S3703). When an OK button 3801 on thewindow 3800 is pressed, the window 2900 is restored.

[0238] If “Files” is one or more, an upload window 3900 shown in FIG. 38is displayed in step S3704. On this window, image sets, each constitutedby a reference button 3901 for selection of a file in the user PC 102A,an input area 3902 for inputting a file path, and a preview display area3903 for displaying a thumbnail image of a selected image, are displayedin number equal to the number of files (Files) that was calculated instep S3701. When a transmission button 3904 is pressed, the flowadvances to step S3705 to transfer the selected image files from theuser PC 102A to a work area in the photosite 105. Although no shown inthe flow chart of FIG. 36, when a cancel button 3905 is pressed, theupload processing is terminated, and the window 2900 is displayed.

[0239] The image files transferred to the photosite 105 are stored inthe database 117. Let N be the number of transferred files. In addition,the process variable I is set to 1 (step S3706).

[0240] It is checked in step S3707 whether I≦N. If I >N, the window 2900is displayed in step S3716, and the processing is terminated.

[0241] If it is determined in step S3707 that I≦N, it is checked in stepS3708 whether the Ith transferred file is an image file that can behandled by the photosite 105. In this embodiment, the transferred fileis determined as a file that can be used by the photosite 105 only whenthe uploaded image is a JPEG file, and digital camera photographingcondition information in the DCF format can be extracted from its headerfield. If the transferred file is anything other than the above file, awindow 4000 shown in FIG. 39 is displayed in step S3709. In step S3710,this file set in the work area in the photosite 105 is deleted. Notethat when an image is printed in the printsite 109A, the DCF informationis used for color correction and the like for printing by using ashutter speed, information indicating whether electronic flash has beenused or not, and the like. When an OK button 4001 is pressed, the flowadvances to step S3715 to upload the next file.

[0242] If it is determined in step S3708 that the uploaded file is animage file having a predetermined format, the flow advances to stepS3711 to create a thumbnail image of this image and store it from thework area in the photosite 105 to the image database 117.

[0243] It is then checked in step S3712 whether a file can be added.This determination is done by checking whether the maximum disk capacityis exceeded when the file in process is registered. If it is determinedin step S3712 that no file can be added, the window 3800 shown in FIG.37 is displayed, and all the image files in the work area in thephotosite 105 which have not been registered in the image database 117are deleted. In step S3716, the window 2900 is displayed.

[0244] If it is determined in step S3712 that a file can be added, theimage information is registered in the database 118 in step S3714. Morespecifically, with respect to the uploaded image file, the imageinformation data table 900 shown in FIG. 8 is created in such a mannerthat the value obtained by adding one to the maximum image ID of all theimage IDs registered so far is set in the image ID 901 of the addedimage; a file path, in the original image file path 904; file paths tothe newly created thumbnail display image and display image, in thethumbnail file path 905 and display image file path 906, respectively;0, in the image browse count 908; and 0, in the image print count 909.The album image data table 800 is registered in which the album ID ofthe currently selected album is set in the album ID 801; the above imageID, in the image ID 802; and the value obtained by adding one to thenumber of images in the album, in the image display number 803.

[0245] I is incremented by one in step S3715, and the flow returns tostep S3707.

[0246] The processing from step S3707 to step S3715 is repeated while Iis equal to or less than N, thereby registering uploaded image files inthe database to the maximum capacity.

[0247]FIG. 40 is a flow chart showing the processing of calculating thenumber of files (Files) that can be added in step S3701.

[0248] First of all, in step S4101, the database is searched for theimage information data table 900 to extract records having the user IDof a login user. Let N be the number of corresponding records. Inaddition, 1 is assigned to the process variable I for image records, and0 is assigned to a variable process Size for the calculation of theimage size used by the user.

[0249] It is checked in step S4102 whether I≦N. If I ≦N, the flowadvances to step S4103 to acquire an image file by using the originalimage file path of the Ith record found in step S4101.

[0250] In step S4104, the size of the image file is added to Size, and 1is added to I in step S4105.

[0251] By performing the processing from step S4103 to step S4105 whileI≦N, the disk capacity Size of the disk currently used by the user canbe calculated.

[0252] In step S4106, the database 118 is searched for the user statedata table 500 with the user ID 501 of the login user, and the maximumdisk capacity 503 is set to Max_Size.

[0253] It is checked in step S4107 whether Size<Max_Size. If NO in stepS4107, since there is no disk area left for this user, 0 is assigned toFiles in step S4108.

[0254] If it is determined in step S4107 that Size<Max_Size, it ischecked in step S4109 whether N is 0. If N is not 0, an average filesize S of one file of the user is obtained in step S4110 as

S=Size/N

[0255] If N is 0, the average file size of images photographed by awidely used digital camera with an average number of pixels is assignedto S in step S4111. In this embodiment, an average image size of 500kbytes (500000) obtained when images are photographed by 2,000,000-pixeldigital cameras is assigned to S.

[0256] In step S4112, the number of albums that can be added (Files) iscalculated by dividing the remaining user disk capacity by the averagefile size. That is, “Files” is obtained by

Files=(Max_Size−Size)/S

[0257] It is checked in step S4113 whether Files=0. If Files=0, “Files”is changed to Files=0 in step S4114.

[0258] In steps S4109 and S4110, as a file size that is expected to beused by the user, the average of the sizes of image files that havealready been uploaded by the user is used. Only when no user image isuploaded, the average file size of images photographed by widely useddigital cameras with an average number of pixels is used. However, theaverage file size of images photographed by widely used digital cameraswith an average number of pixels may always be used. In this case, thereis no need to perform determination in step S4109, and hence the flowdirectly advances from step S4107 to step S4111.

[0259] <Print Order>

[0260]FIG. 41 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing among theuser PC 102, the photosite 105, and the printsite 109 when the usergives a print order by using the photosite 105. The user can give aprint order for an image in a selected album in the photosite bypressing the print order button 2909 on the window 2900. Note that theparenthesized steps are the corresponding steps in FIG. 1.

[0261] When the user generates an album browse request in step S4201(step S1), the photosite 105 reads out album images and presents them tothe user in step S4202 (step S2). That is, on the window 2900, albumimages corresponding to a pressed album selection button in the albumselection area 2910 are displayed in the album display area 2923.

[0262] In step S4203 (step S3), the user gives a print orderinstruction. The print order instruction is issued when the print orderbutton 2909 on the window 2900 is pressed.

[0263] When the print order instruction is issued, the flow advances tostep S4204, in which the photosite 105 creates a window 4300 for theselection of the printsite 109 shown in FIG. 42 and presents it to theuser PC 102.

[0264] When the user selects the printsite 109 from a printsiteselection area 4301 and presses an OK button 4302 in step S4205, thephotosite 105 issues a temporary print order to the printsite 109Aselected by the user in step S4206 (step S4). FIG. 53 shows an exampleof the data of the temporary print order issued to the printsite 109A.Although not shown in FIG. 41, if the user presses a cancel button 4303in step S4205, the processing is interrupted, and the photosite 105displays the currently selected album on the window 2900 again. When abutton 4304 is pressed, information about the currently selectedprintsite 109A is displayed.

[0265] Upon notification of the temporary print order, the printsite109A creates data for displaying an image selection window 4400 shown inFIG. 43 and transmits the data to the user PC 102 in step S4207 (stepS5). The window 4400 is a print order image selection window created bythe printsite 109A, and includes a selection area 4401 for the selectionof a print type (brimmed or brimless) at the time of printing, an area4402 in which a thumbnail image in the album acquired from the photosite105 is displayed, a selection area 4403 for the selection of a printsize, an input area 4404 in which a print count is designated, anestimation request button 4405, and a cancel button 4406. Note thatthumbnail image display areas 4402, size selection areas 4403, and printcount input areas 4404 exist in number equal to the number of image datacontained in the temporary print order.

[0266] When the user selects an image to be ordered from the imageselection window 4400 and presses the estimation request button 4405upon inputting a size and print count in step S4208, the flow advancesto step S4209 (step S6), in which the printsite 109A performs estimationcalculation processing. When estimation calculation is completed in stepS4209 (step S7), the corresponding information is notified to thephotosite 105. Note that an estimated price may be derived bycalculation. Alternatively, a table storing calculation results may beprepared, and an estimated price may be read out from the table.

[0267] If no estimation request is generated in step S4208, i.e., thecancel button 4406 on the window 4400 is pressed, the temporary printorder in the printsite 109A is deleted, and the photosite 105 isnotified that the order is aborted. In step S4221, the photosite 105cancels the order, and stops the temporary print order processing. Thewindow 2900 is then restored.

[0268] When the estimate data is notified from the printsite 109A, thephotosite 105 reads out the cumulative points 504 from the customerstate data table 500 in the database 118 in the photosite 105, subtractsthe cumulative points from the estimated price, and displays the resultto the user. FIG. 44 shows the estimate window displayed at this time.In the case of a browse user including portable browse user, if there isno customer state data about the user, the printsite 109A displays theestimate data to the user.

[0269] When the estimate window is displayed, the user considerspurchase in step S4211 (step S9). Referring to FIG. 41, this processingis briefly written as “purchase considered?” in step S4211. However,when the user considers purchase, the credit information shown in FIG.45 and the destination shown in FIG. 46 are input between the photositeand the user. If the cancel button 4503, 4602, or 4702 is pressed duringthis operation, the flow shifts to order cancellation approvalprocessing in step S4218. In this embodiment, since a uniform deliverycharge is set, the above flow is used. If, however, different chargesare set depending on destinations, the window in FIG. 46 is displayed inthe printsite 109A before estimate calculation processing in step S4209is performed.

[0270] If the user gives an order, the photosite 105 performs settlementprocessing in step S4212. In step S4213 (step S10), the photosite 105issues a formal print order to the printsite 109A.

[0271] Upon notification of the formal print order, the printsite 109Aperforms order reception processing in step S4214. In step S4215, theprintsite 109A acquires image data from the photosite 105, and performsprint processing for the image data in step S4216. In step S4217 (stepS11), a delivery instruction is issued, and the processing isterminated. Although not shown in the flow chart of FIG. 41, whenprocessing in step S4214 to step S4217 is performed, the status of theprintsite 109A is returned to the photosite 105, and the correspondinginformation is stored in the database 118 in the photosite 105.

[0272] When the photosite 105 approves order cancellation in step S4218,the photosite 105 gives a temporary print order delete request to theprintsite 109A. In step S4219, the printsite 109A deletes the temporaryprint order in accordance with this request.

[0273]FIG. 47 is a flow chart showing the contents of temporary printorder issue processing in the photosite 105 which is performed in stepsS4204 and S4206. FIG. 53 shows an example of the format of a temporaryprint order issued by this processing.

[0274] When the print order button 2909 on the window 2900 is pressed,the photosite 105 searches the album image data table 800 to acquire animage count N of the currently selected album in step S4801. Inaddition, 1 is assigned to a display image work counter I, and 0 isassigned to a selected image work counter J. The maximum order number ofthe order numbers of orders issued in the past is acquired from theorderer data table 1300 in the database 118, and the value obtained byadding one to the acquired number is set as an order number Order_ID ofthe current temporary print order.

[0275] In step S4802, the photosite 105 opens a work file (Work file)for the creation of a temporary print order.

[0276] It is checked in step S4803 whether I≦N.

[0277] It is checked in step S4804 whether the Ith image is selected. Ifthe user has checked a check box, of the check boxes indicated bybuttons 2930 to 2935 on the window 2900, which is associated with theIth image, it is determined that the Ith image is selected, and the flowadvances to step S4805.

[0278] In step S4805, the photosite 105 searches the album image datatable 800 in the database 118 for a record whose image display number isI, and acquires the image ID 802 of the image. The photosite 105 alsosearches the image information data table 900 for a record with imageinformation having the image ID 901. From the searched image informationdata table 900, the photosite 105 acquires the file path 904 to theoriginal image, the file path 905 to the thumbnail image, and the filepath 906 to the display image, and copies the respective images in afolder which can be accessed from the printsite 109A.

[0279] In step S4806, the selected image counter J is incremented byone.

[0280] In step S4807, a sent image number J, the image name 903 acquiredfrom the image information data table 900, and URLs for accessing theoriginal image, thumbnail image, and display image copied in step S4805from the printsite 109A are written in the Work file. In addition, theordered image data table 1100 is created and registered. At this time,Order_ID obtained in step S4801 is set to the order number 1101; J, tothe image number; and the file paths to the three copied images, to 1104to 1106. The remaining information in the record is set when an estimateis notified from the printsite 109A, and hence 0 is assigned to all theinformation.

[0281] In step S4808, I is incremented by one. If it is determined instep S4804 that no image is selected, the flow also advances to stepS4808. The flow then returns to step S4803. By repeating the processingin step S4804 to step S4808 while I≦N, the identification information ofall selected images for which a temporary print order is placed arewritten in the Work file.

[0282] If it is determined in step S4803 that 1>N, it is determined thatthe selection of the print order associated with all the images in thealbum has been checked, and the flow advances to step S4809 to checkwhether J=0, i.e., there is a selected image.

[0283] If it is determined in step S4809 that J=0, a window 4900 shownin FIG. 48 is displayed in step S4810. When an OK button 4901 on thewindow 4900 is pressed, the Work file is deleted in step S4816, and theordered image data table 1100 registered in step S4807 is completeddeleted. Thereafter, the window 2900 is displayed.

[0284] If NO in step S4809, the flow shifts to step S4204 to performdisplay processing for the printsite selection window 4300.

[0285] In step S4812, a user input is checked (as in step S4205). If theOK button 4302 on the window 4300 is pressed, the header field (up to<Estimeteitem> tag) of a temporary print order XML file 5401 shown inFIG. 53 shown in FIG. 53 is created in step S4813. In the header field,the above order number and J are respectively assigned toPhotositeOrderid and Count, but the remaining fields are fixed.

[0286] In step S4814, the Work file is merged with the temporary printorder XML file 5401. More specifically, elements expressed by<estimeteitem> tag and </estimeteitem> tag of the temporary print orderXML data 5401 are created by using the identification information of aselected image in the Work file which is written by the processing insteps S4804 to S4808. By further adding the end tag of the order, theXML file 5401 to be notified from the photosite 105 to the printsite109A is completed.

[0287] In step S4815, the XML file created in steps S4813 and S4814 isnotified to the printsite 109A. A destination CGI is acquired from theURL 1403 to a temporary print order notification CGI in the printsitedata table 1400.

[0288] If the cancel button 4304 on the printsite selection window 4300is pressed, since is it is determined in step S4812 that the OK buttonis not pressed, the flow advances to step S4816 to delete the Work file.In step S4807, the registered ordered image data table 1100 iscompletely deleted. Thereafter, the window 2900 is displayed, and theprocessing is terminated.

[0289]FIG. 49 is a flow chart showing the contents of display processingfor a print image selection window in the printsite 109A in step S4207.

[0290] In step S5001, a temporary print order file is acquired from thephotosite 105.

[0291] In step S5002, the order data table 1600 is created andregistered in the database 119A. The value obtained by adding one to themaximum value of the values of receipt numbers issued in the order datatable 1600 is set in the receipt number 1601, and the photosite ID 1602and photosite order number 1603 are acquired from the acquired temporaryprint order file. The date when the temporary print order file wasacquired is set in the temporary print order 1604, and 0 (temporaryprint order) is assigned to the order status. Of the items in the orderdata table 1600, the items 1607 to 1613 are registered when an estimateis issued, and hence 0 is set in all these items.

[0292] In step S5003, N and 1 are respectively assigned to the temporaryprint order image count and the work image counter I.

[0293] It is checked in step S5004 whether I≦N. If I ≦N, the flowadvances to step S5005.

[0294] In step S5005, the print image information table 1700 associatedwith the Ith image written in the temporary print order file is created.The same value as the receipt number 1601 in step S5001 is set in thereceipt number 1701, and I is set in the image number 1702. As the URLs1703, 1704, and 1705, the corresponding URLs are acquired from thetemporary print order file and set. Of the items in the print imageinformation table 1700, the items 1705 to 1708 are registered when anestimate is issued, and hence 0 is set in all these items.

[0295] In step S5006, the thumbnail image acquired in step S5005 isacquired from the photosite 105. In step S5007, the thumbnail image isdisplayed as the Ith image.

[0296] In step S5008, order count and order size input areas arecreated, and 1 and L size are set as initial values. As items to beselected in the order size input area, items are acquired from a servicecontents data list 5800 shown in FIG. 57. The service contents data list5800 is a list for setting service contents and corresponding unitprices in advance in the printsite 109A.

[0297] In step S5009, I is incremented by one, and the flow shifts todetermination in step S5004. By repeating the processing in steps S5005to S5009 while I≦N, all the images registered in the temporary printorder can be displayed on the order window. If it is determined in stepS5004 that I>N, the processing is terminated.

[0298]FIG. 50 is a flow chart showing estimate calculation in theprintsite 109 in step S4209 in FIG. 41 and notification of estimateinformation to the photosite 105. FIG. 54 shows an example of theestimate information that is created by the printsite 109A and notifiedto the photosite 105.

[0299] In step S5101, the number of images displayed on the window 4400is assigned to N; 1, to the work image counter I; 0, to the work orderimage count J; and 0, to a work total price Account.

[0300] In step S5102, a Work file is created.

[0301] In step S5103, it is checked whether I≦N. If I ≦N, the flowadvances to step S5104.

[0302] In step S5104, the value of the input area 4404 associated withthe Ith image on the window 4400 is acquired, and it is checked whetherthe value is 0. If the value is not 0, the information set in theselection area 4403 is acquired in step S5105, and a unit price Ucorresponding to the size is acquired from the corresponding paper sizein the service contents data list 5800. If it is determined in stepS5104 that the order count is 0, the flow advances to step S5108.

[0303] In step S5106, the amount obtained by multiplying the image printcount by U is added to Account.

[0304] In step S5107, the order estimate information associated with theIth image is added to the Work file. The print image information table1700 in the database 119A is searched for a record having the currentprintsite receipt number in the receipt number 1701 and I in the imagenumber 1702. The print count 1706 and print size 1707 of the foundrecord are updated by the current set values, and the print unit price1709 is updated by U. In addition, by adding the currently set printcount to J, the number of images for which print orders have been givenis stored.

[0305] In step S5108, I is incremented by one, and the flow returns tothe processing in step S5103. By repeating the processing in steps S5104to S5108 while I≦N, estimate information and a total price with respectto all the images can be obtained.

[0306] It is checked in step S5109 whether J=0. If J =0, since no printimage is selected, a warning window is displayed in step S5115. Thewarning window displayed at this time is the same as the window 4900.When the OK button is pressed, the Work file is deleted in step S5116,and the window 4400 is displayed again.

[0307] If it is determined in step S5109 that J is not equal to 0, aprice corresponding to a benefit, if any, in the printsite 109A iscalculated in step S5110. In this case, a printsite benefit list 5900shown in FIG. 58 is searched for a benefit. If there is a listcorresponding to the size IDs in the service contents data list, theuser can receive a discount written in “reduced price” in accordancewith the print count in “benefit unit”.

[0308] In step S5111, the header field (up to <resultitem> tag) of anestimate XML file 5501 shown in FIG. 54 is created. PrintSiteOrderid isobtained by adding “pr-” to the receipt number of the printsite 109A. Jis input to count. In addition, a print price, tax charge, deliverycharge, and delivery tax charge are added.

[0309] In step S5112, the contents of the Work file are merged with theestimate XML file 5501. If there is a benefit in the printsite 109A,benefit information is also added to this file, and the end tag of theestimate is finally added to the file, thereby completing the estimateinformation file 5501.

[0310] In step S5113, the order data table 1600 is searched for a recordhaving the current printsite receipt number in the receipt number 1601.The print type 1607 of the found record is updated by the informationinput in the type input area 4401 on the window 4400, and Account isassigned to the print price 1608. In addition, the bargain price andprint tax charge are respectively input to the printsite bargain price1609 and print tax charge 1610. Furthermore, the estimated deliverycharge is input to the delivery charge 1611, the delivery tax charge isinput to the delivery tax charge 1612, and the sum total of the valuesset in 1608 to 1612 is set in the total price 1613, thus updating therecord.

[0311] The estimate information created in step S5114 is notified fromthe printsite 109A to the photosite 105.

[0312]FIG. 51 is a flow chart showing processing in the photosite 105 inthe interval between the instant at which the estimate notified from theprintsite 109A is acquired and the instant at which a formal print orderis issued in step S4213 in FIG. 41.

[0313] In step S5201, estimate data is acquired from the printsite 109A.

[0314] In step S5202, the cumulative points 504 are acquired from thecustomer state data table 500 and assigned to Pt. In this embodiment,the cumulative points are converted into yen at a conversion rate of oneyen per point. In addition, the value of Pt is assigned to a processvariable New_Pt for the calculation of a point after the end of theorder. In the case of a browse user including a portable browse user, ifthere is no customer state data with respect to the user, 0 is assignedto Pt.

[0315] In step S5203, the estimated total price for printing in theprintsite 109A which is acquired from the estimate data is assigned toPrice.

[0316] It is checked in step S5204 whether Price<Pt. If Price<Pt, Priceis assigned to Pt.

[0317] In step S5206, the estimate is displayed. A window 4500 shown inFIG. 44 is an example of the estimate display window displayed at thistime. In an estimate display area 4504, print prices are displayed on aprint paper basis, and benefit information in the printsite 109A isdisplayed next. In addition, a tax charge, total price (print price) tobe paid to the printsite 109A, delivery charge, and delivery tax chargeare added, and benefit information in the photosite 105 is added,thereby displaying the amount to be paid by the user. Although notshown, in the case of a browse user including a portable browse user, ifthere is no customer state data with respect to the user, a benefitinformation button 4501 is not displayed.

[0318] When the benefit information button 4501 is pressed, it isdetermined in step S5207 that changing of the benefit information isselected, and a benefit information setting window 5300 shown in FIG. 52is displayed to allow the user to determine whether to use a benefit forthis payment (step S5205). If a radio button 5301 on the window 5300 isselected, the current points are used as a benefit. If a radio button5302 is set, the points input in a point input area 5304 can be used asa benefit. If a radio button 5303 is selected, the benefit is notreflected in the estimate. If an OK button 5305 is pressed, the flowreturns to step S5204 to perform addition processing for points again.If a cancel button 5306 is pressed, the flow returns to step S5206 todisplay the window 4500, although not shown in FIG. 51.

[0319] If a cancel button 4503 on the window 4500 is pressed, the flowshifts from step S5209 to step S5210 to perform delete processing forthe temporary print order. In this processing, the order informationdata table 1000 associated with the print order and the imageinformation data table 900 which are registered in the photosite 105 aredeleted, and the printsite 109A is notified of the deletion of thetemporary print order. The window 2900 is then restored.

[0320] When a credit information setting button 4502 is pressed, theflow shifts from step S5209 to step S5211 to subtract the point countused this time from the current point count as New_Pt and add 1% ofPrice.

[0321] In step S5212, a window 4600 shown in FIG. 45 is displayed tomake the user give a print order and set information for payment. Whenan order button 4601 on the window 4600 is pressed, a window 4700 shownin FIG. 46 is displayed to prompt the user to input a destination. Inthe case of a browse user including a portable browse user, if there isno customer state data with respect to the user, “the same destinationas orderer” is not displayed. When an order button 4701 on the window4700 is pressed, the photosite 105 updates the respective tables in thedatabase 118. First of all, the value of New_Pt is stored in thecumulative points 504 in the customer state data table 500. That is, thepoint count used for this order is subtracted, and then a point count tobe added for this print order is added. In the case of a browse userincluding a portable browse user, if there is no customer state datawith respect to the user, the customer state data table 500 is notupdated. The order information about each image is acquired from theestimate information file acquired from the printsite 109A, and theprint count, print size, and print type of the record of eachcorresponding image in the ordered image data table 1100 are updated. Inaddition, a new order settlement data table 1200 is created on the basisof the current order number, and the contents displayed in an estimatedisplay area 4504 on a window 4500 are registered in the table. “I”indicating the completion of settlement is assigned to the status 1210.Furthermore, an orderer data table 1300 is created, and the currentorderer information is acquired from the customer information data table400 and copied to the orderer data table 1300. Lastly, an orderinformation data table 1000 is created, and the destination informationinput on the window 4700 is registered in the table. “1” indicating thatan order has been given to the printsite is assigned to the order status1014.

[0322] The flow then advances to step S5213, in which the photosite 105notifies the printsite 109A of a formal print order. FIG. 55 is a viewshowing an example of the formal print order XML data that is notifiedat this time. Note that this notified data 5601 is almost the same dataobtained by adding a destination to the estimate data 5501 shown in FIG.54 and changing each tag name.

[0323] In step S5214, order contents are displayed, and the orderer isnotified of the contents by mail. FIG. 56 shows a display window 5700 ofthe order contents. When a button 5701 is pressed, the photosite 105displays the window 2900. FIG. 59 shows an example of the mail to benotified when a print order is placed. Although not shown, in the caseof a browse user including a portable browse user, if there is nocustomer state data with respect to the user, mail notification is notperformed.

[0324]FIG. 60 is a flow chart showing the details of order receptionprocessing in step S4214 in FIG. 41.

[0325] First of all, in step S6101, order information is acquired and anorder number is extracted from the order information to search for theorder data table 1600 having the order number. Order notification timeis set in the formal print order date 1605 in the order data table 1600,and the order status 1606 is changed to 1 indicating that no imagecorresponding to the formal order has been printed. Destinationinformation is further acquired from the acquired order information.

[0326] In step S6102, the acquired information is registered in theorder delivery table 1800. The status 1812 is set to 0 indicating thatdelivery has not been done.

[0327] <Notification of Album>

[0328]FIG. 32 is a view showing the window displayed when thenotification button 2905 on the window 2900 is pressed.

[0329] When the user inputs a destination mail address 3302, sender mailaddress 3303, mail title 3304, and message 3305 on a window 3300 andpresses a notification button 3306, the photosite 105 merges the abovecontents with the mail document created in the photosite 105 and issuesalbum notification mail to the destination mail address.

[0330]FIG. 61 shows an example of the album notification mail. The URLand album ID contained in the notification mail are the same as the URLon the window 3300 and the contents displayed in a disclosure album IDdisplay area 3308. Upon reception of the mail, the user can browse analbum by designating the URL written in the mail. By inputting the albumID written in the mail in the album ID input area 1905 on the window1900 and presses the OK button 1906, the user can also browse the samealbum as that browsed when the URL is designated. In this case, thevalue of parameter AlbumID=written in the URL is equal to the album IDof the disclosure album. A window 7800 shown in FIG. 72 is a window usedto access an album through the portable terminal 113 that can beconnected to the Internet. The user can browse the album by inputtingthe album ID in an input area 7801.

[0331] <Creation of Disclosure Album>

[0332] A procedure for creating a disclosure album ID will be describednext. A disclosure album ID needs to have a value from which the thirdparty cannot easily guess or infer the original album ID 701 and thedisclosure album ID of another album on the basis of thenumber/character string of the ID.

[0333] For this purpose, a disclosure album ID must be created byencrypting an album ID managed in the photosite 105. In this case, asindicated by the flow chart of FIG. 64, in step S6501, the album ID ismultiplied by 70, and a check digit is embedded in the value at theunits place of the product. In steps S6502 to S6507, the resultant datais converted into a character string that can be easily input throughthe portable terminal 113. This makes it difficult for the third partyto infer another disclosure album ID.

[0334] Embedding of Check Digit

[0335]FIG. 62 is a flow chart showing the processing of embedding acheck digit in step S6501 in FIG. 64. In this embodiment, the valueobtained by multiplying the album ID 701 by seven to ID, and the valueat each digit place of ID expressed in decimal is multiplied by thenumber of digits. The sum total of the products is then obtained, and acomplement to the value at the units place is set as a check digit. Eachdigit of ID is carried by one, and the check digit is added to the unitsplace, thus obtaining a new ID.

[0336] In step S6301, the album ID 701 of the album for which anotification is to be currently done is obtained, and the value obtainedby multiplying the ID by seven is assigned to ID.

[0337] In step S6302, a process variable Div in which the quotientobtained by sequentially dividing ID by 10 is stored is initialized toID; a process variable Order for counting the number of digits of ID, to1; a process variable Rem in which the remainder obtained bysequentially dividing ID by 10 is stored, to 0; and a process variableCheck for check digit calculation, to 0.

[0338] In step S6303, it is checked whether Div is 0. If Div is not 0,the flow advances to step S6304.

[0339] In step S6304, the remainder of the quotient obtained by dividingDiv by 10 is assigned to Rem, the quotient obtained by dividing Div by10 is assigned to Div, and Rem×Order is added to Check.

[0340] In step S6305, one is added to Order, and the flow returns tostep S6303. By repeating the processing in steps S6304 and S6305 untilDiv becomes 0, a sum total Check of the products of the numerical valuesat the respective digit places of ID and the number of digits iscalculated.

[0341] If it is determined in step S6303 that Div is 0, the flowadvances to step S6306, in which the remainder of the quotient obtainedby dividing Check by 10 is subtracted from 10, and the resultant valueis assigned to Check.

[0342] In step S6307, the value obtained by multiplying ID by 10 andadding Check to the product is set as a new ID.

[0343] The numerical values before and after ID obtained in this mannerdo not become album IDs. Even if a given person tries to search forother albums by manipulating the acquired disclosure album ID, thephotosite 105 can detect such unauthorized access and reject albumdisplay.

[0344] <Conversion for Telephone>

[0345] The processing in step S6502 and the subsequent steps in FIG. 64will be described next. In this processing, an encrypted disclosurealbum ID is converted into a character string that can be easily inputby a small number of keys. In this embodiment, a character string inwhich characters input by the same button (e.g., A and B) do notconsecutively appear is created by referring to a list 6400 for managingcharacter codes corresponding to the respective numerical values of atelephone.

[0346] In the telephone/alphabet list 6400 in FIG. 63, the buttons(Button) of a telephone, character codes (Letters) corresponding to thebuttons, and the numbers (AL) of character codes corresponding to therespective buttons are managed. The number AL of character codescorresponding to a button X is represented by AL[X].

[0347] In this embodiment, a disclosure album ID is created by selectingalphabetical characters one by one from the ID (numerical value) createdin step S6501.

[0348] More specifically, the first character is determined byconverting the ID into a base-26 number (using, for example, a table inwhich 0 to 25 are assigned to A to Z), and each of the second andsubsequent characters is selected from alphabetical characters that canbe input by buttons different from the button used to input theimmediately preceding character that was determined. As a consequence,the ID is converted into a base-23 or base-22 number to create acharacter string. This processing will be sequentially described below.

[0349] In step S6502, 1 is set as an initial value in a process variableButton indicating the button to be selected; 1, in a process variablePrev_Button indicating the immediately preceding button that waspressed; ID, in a process variable Div representing the quotientobtained by dividing ID by the number of types of characters that can beused; 0, in the process variable Rem representing the remainder obtainedby dividing ID by the number of types of characters that can be used;and a null character string, in a character string Str that is finallyobtained.

[0350] It is checked in step S6503 whether Div is 0. At first, since IDis assigned to Div in step S6502, the flow advances to step S6504.

[0351] In step S6504, Div is divided by the number of characters thatcan be currently used, and the quotient and remainder are respectivelyset in Div and Rem. In the initial state, Prev_Button is 1 andAL[Prev_Button] is 0 according to the table shown in FIG. 63, and hence26 types of characters can be used. Thereafter, 22 or 23 types ofcharacters can be used in accordance with the value of Button.

[0352] In step S6505, the character chr is determined on the basis ofthe value of Rem and Prev_Button. That is, the (Rem)th character in allalphabetical characters except for alphabetical character assigned tothe immediately preceding button is determined as chr. Furthermore,button number Button to which chr belongs is also derived.

[0353] In step S6506, chr is added to Str.

[0354] In step S6507, Button is set in Prev_Button (i.e., the currentlyselected button becomes an immediately preceding button with respect tothe next button), and the flow returns to the processing in step S6503.Characters chr are added to the character string Str one by one byrepeating the processing in steps S6504 to S6507 until Div becomes 0.

[0355] If it is determined in step S6503 that Div becomes 0, Str becomesa character string representing a disclosure album ID.

[0356]FIG. 65 is a flow chart showing the processing of obtaining thecharacter chr corresponding to Rem and the button number Button to whichthe character belongs in step S6505 in FIG. 64.

[0357] In step S6601, the process variables Sum and Button areinitialized into −1 and 1, respectively.

[0358] In step S6602, it is checked whether Button is equal toPrev_Button. If they are equal, since the corresponding button cannot beused, the flow advances to step S6604. If they are not equal, the numberof characters AL[Button] that can be input by using Button is added toSum. That is, the number obtained by sequentially adding the numericalvalues in the AL column in the list 6400 in FIG. 63 is input to Sum. Inthis case, AL corresponding to the immediately preceding button is notadded by the processing in step S6602.

[0359] In step S6604, it is checked whether Sum<Rem. If Sum<Rem, 1 isadded to Button, and the flow returns to step S6602. If Rem<Sum, sincethere is a character corresponding to Rem in Button, the flow advancesto step S6606.

[0360] In step S6606, chr is obtained. Note that chr is the(Rem−Sum+AL[Button])th character in Letters[Button].

[0361] <Browsing of Album>

[0362] The user who has received the notification mail shown in FIG. 61can display the album browse start window 6700 shown in FIG. 66 bydesignating a URL 6201 written in the mail document. Note that thiswindow can also be displayed by inputting an album ID 6203 written inthe notification mail in the album ID input area 1905 and pressing the“GO!” button 1906 on the window 1900.

[0363]FIG. 68 is a flow chart showing the processing of checking, upondesignation of an album ID by the user through the portable terminal113, whether an album corresponding to the designated album ID exists.

[0364] In step S7401, the number of digits of the input ID isinitialized to Order; the process variable I for counting the number ofdigits, to 1; the process variable Chr representing a character, to thecharacter at the first digit place; and AlbumID to be obtained, to 0. Inthis embodiment, input parameters representing an album ID are limitedto English letters. If, however, unauthorized input, e.g., input ofcharacters other than English letters, is checked, an error window 7501shown in FIG. 69 is displayed as in the case wherein no albumcorresponding to the designated album ID exists.

[0365] In step S7402, a button to which the character of Chr is assignedis searched from the portable terminal button/alphabet list 6400 and setto BN.

[0366] In step S7403, a specific ordinal number in the alphabet to whichChr corresponds is obtained, 1 is subtracted from the obtained value,and the resultant value is set in Num.

[0367] In step S7404, it is checked whether I<Order.

[0368] If it is determined in step S7404 that I<Order, the character atthe (i+1)th digit place is set in Prev_Chr.

[0369] In step S7406, a button to which the character of Prev_Chr isassigned is searched from the portable terminal button/alphabet list6400 and is set in BP.

[0370] In step S7407, PB is compared with BN. Although not shown, inthis embodiment, since two characters assigned to the same button arenot consecutively input, if BP=BN, an error window 7500 is displayed.

[0371] If it is determined in step S7407 that BP<BN, only AL[BP] issubtracted from Num in step S7408. If it is determined in step S7407that BP≧BN, the flow advances to step S7409 without performing theprocessing in step S7408.

[0372] In step S7409, the value obtained by subtracting only AL[BP] from26 is set in a process variable Mult representing a multiplier.

[0373] In step S7410, AlbumID is multiplied by Mult, and Num is added tothe product. The resultant value is then set as new AlbumID.

[0374] In step S7411, 1 is added to I, and BP and Prev_Chr arerespectively assigned to BN and Chr. The flow then returns to theprocessing in step S7403.

[0375] If it is determined in step S7404 that I is not larger thanOrder, the value obtained by multiplying AlbumID by 26 and adding Num tothe product is newly set in AlbumID. If the album ID input by the useris a correct value, AlbumID obtained here becomes ID shown in FIG. 62.In this embodiment, since this value is the value obtained by embeddinga check digit at the first digit place of the product of the existingalbum ID and 7, the quotient obtained by dividing Album by 10 is set inID in step S7413. It is then checked in step S7414 whether ID can bedivided by 7 without a remainder.

[0376] If it is determined in step S7414 that ID is divided by 7 withouta remainder, ID is divided by 7 in step S7415.

[0377] In step S7416, the check digit embedding processing shown in FIG.62 is performed for this ID. In step S7417, it is checked whether IDcoincides with AlbumID.

[0378] If it is determined in step S7414 that ID cannot be divided by 7without a remainder, and it is determined in step S7417 that ID does notcoincide with AlbumID, it indicates that a proper album ID is not input.In step S7418, therefore, the error window 7500 shown in FIG. 69 isdisplayed.

[0379] The photosite 105 analyzes AlbumID of the parameter portion ofthe above input URL or the album ID input to the album ID input area1905. Only when an album exists, the photosite 105 searches the albuminformation table 700 for a record having the ID obtained in step S7414in the album ID 701. The photosite 105 then searches the customer albumdata table 600 for a user ID having the album ID, and further searchesthe customer information table for a record corresponding to the user ID401.

[0380] Subsequently, the name (last name) 405 is displayed on a window6700 shown in FIG. 66. If the password permission/inhibition flag 705 ofthe album information data table 700 searched in this case indicatesthat a password is set for the album, a password input area 6701 isdisplayed. Obviously, if no password is set for the album, a passwordinput area 6701 is not displayed.

[0381] When the OK button 6701 is pressed, for example, an album browsewindow 6800 shown in FIG. 67 is displayed with respect to an album forwhich no password is set or an album for which a password is properlyinput. The contents of this window are the same as those of the albumdisplay area 2923 on the window 2900. If a password is not properlyinput, the window 2500 shown in FIG. 24 is displayed. When the OK button2501 is pressed, the window 6700 is displayed again.

[0382] In addition, the value of the print permission/inhibition flag707 is acquired from the album information data table 700, and a button6803 is displayed in association with an album that can be printed,thereby allowing the user to give a print order. In this case, the flowof print order processing is almost the same as login user processing(the processing to be done when the button 2909 on the window 2900 inFIG. 28 is pressed) except that no point is added in the photosite 105.

[0383] <Browsing from Portable Terminal>

[0384] A window 7600 shown in FIG. 70 is an example of the windowdisplayed on the display of the portable terminal 113 at the time ofbrowsing from the portable terminal. In response to a browse requestfrom the user, the photosite 105 acquires the information of theterminal which has generated the request to check whether the browserequest has been generated by a portable terminal or PC. If the browserequest is generated by the portable terminal, the window 7600 shown inFIG. 70 is displayed. Note that the contents of this window are the sameas those of the window 6700. The window 7600 is displayed when the userdirectly designates the URL indicated by the notification mail shown inFIG. 72. This window is also displayed when the user inputs the album IDshown in FIG. 62 in an album ID input area 7801 on a window 7800 shownin FIG. 72 and selects a button 7802.

[0385] When a button 7602 on the window 7600 is pressed, a window 7700shown in FIG. 71 is displayed. The photosite 105 displays an image witha reduced image size. In addition, the images in the album are separatedfrom each other to be displayed one by one in accordance with selectionof a next image or previous image. When a button 7701 is pressed,detailed information such as an image name and comment is displayed. Thecontents of this display are the same as those displayed with respect toeach image shown in FIG. 35. In addition, the displayed images in thealbum can be updated one by one by pressing buttons 7702 and 7703.

Other Embodiment

[0386] The above embodiment has exemplified the case wherein the userbrowses images from the PC or portable terminal. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this, and the user may access theinformation providing system from any kind of terminal, such as a fixedtelephone, which can perform data communication.

[0387] In addition, the above embodiment has exemplified the method ofconverting numerical values into an alphabetical character string.Obviously, however, numerical values can be converted into hiraganacharacter string by using a table in which buttons and the types ofhiragana characters assigned to the buttons are stored. In a generaltelephone (especially a cell phone), five characters, e.g., “

” to “

”, are assigned to buttons 1 to 7 and 9 (i.e., AL in FIG. 63 is 5), andthree characters “

”, “

”, and “

” or “

”, “

”, and “

” are assigned to buttons 0 and 8 (ie., AL in FIG. 63 is 3).

[0388] In the above embodiment, according to the description of stepS2012 in FIG. 19, a user ID is compulsorily given as a login name to theuser. In this case, however, a user ID may be converted into a characterstring by the processing in steps S6502 to S6507 in FIG. 64, and thecharacter string may be given as a login name to the user.

[0389] In addition, as the order number written on the window 5700 shownin FIG. 56 and in the order contents shown in FIG. 59, a characterstring that can be easily input by a cell phone may be provided. In thiscase, the state of a print order is presented upon confirming that thecharacter string is input in the input area 1907 on the window 1900shown in FIG. 18.

[0390] By performing such character string conversion in this manner,user-friendlier services can be provided for the user who uses aterminal with a smaller number of keys, e.g., a cell phone or fixedtelephone. The object of the present invention is achieved even bysupplying a storage medium (or recording medium) which stores softwareprogram for implementing the functions of the above-describedembodiments to a system or apparatus and causing the computer (or a CPUor MPU) of the system or apparatus to read out and execute the programcodes stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program codes readout from the storage medium implements the functions of theabove-described embodiments by themselves, and the storage medium whichstores the program codes constitutes the present invention. Thefunctions of the above embodiments are realized not only when thereadout program codes are executed by the computer but also when the OS(Operating System) or the like running on the computer performs part orall of actual processing on the basis of the instructions of the programcodes.

[0391] The functions of the above embodiments are also realized when theprogram codes read out from the storage medium are written in the memoryof a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a functionexpansion unit connected to the computer, and the CPU of the functionexpansion board or function expansion unit or the like performs part orall of actual processing on the basis of the instructions of the programcodes.

[0392] When the present invention is applied to the above storagemedium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to theflow charts described above (shown in FIG. 65 and/or FIG. 66).

[0393] As has been described above, according to the above embodiments,an information providing system which can easily update pricescorresponding to data processing, an information providing apparatus, aninformation providing method, a control program, and a storage mediumcan be provided.

[0394] As many apparently widely different embodiments of the presentinvention can be made without departing from the spirit and scopethereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to thespecific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information providing apparatus which can beconnected to an information processing apparatus, comprising: means forcreating numerical data; storage means in which types of a plurality ofkeys arranged in the information processing apparatus and the number andtypes of characters assigned to the respective keys are stored incorrespondence with each other; and creating means for creating acharacter string from the numerical data by combining the characters,wherein said creating means creates a character string, on the basis ofthe types of keys and the number and types of characters assigned to therespective keys which are stored in said storage means, such thatconsecutive two characters are assigned to the different keys.
 2. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said creating means includesselection means for selecting characters constituting the characterstring one by one from the plurality of characters, and said selectionmeans selects a character assigned to a key different from a key towhich an immediately preceding selected character is assigned.
 3. Theapparatus according to claim 2, wherein said selection means comprises:dividing means for dividing a numerical value represented by thenumerical data by X−Y obtained by subtracting the number Y of charactersassigned to an immediately preceding key to which the immediatelypreceding selected character is assigned from the total number X ofcharacters assigned to the plurality of keys; and deriving means forderiving a Zth character of a remainder calculated by the division froma plurality of characters obtained by subtracting characters assigned tothe immediately preceding key from all characters assigned to theplurality of keys.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidinformation processing apparatus is a telephone, and the plurality ofkeys include at least buttons to which numbers 0 to 9 are assigned. 5.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the numerical value is an IDfor identifying the user.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising information providing means for providing predeterminedinformation to said information processing apparatus in accordance withinput of the character string from said information processingapparatus.
 7. An information processing method using an informationproviding apparatus which can be connected to an information processingapparatus and includes storage means in which types of a plurality ofkeys arranged in the information processing apparatus and the number andtypes of characters assigned to the respective keys are stored incorrespondence with each other; comprising: a step of assigning uniquenumerical data to a user; and a creating step of creating a characterstring from the numerical data by combining the characters, wherein inthe creating step, a character string is created such that twoconsecutive characters are assigned to the different keys.
 8. A controlprogram for controlling an information processing apparatus which can beconnected to an information processing apparatus and includes storagemeans in which types of a plurality of keys arranged in the informationprocessing apparatus and the number and types of characters assigned tothe respective keys are stored in correspondence with each other, andprocessor; causing the processor to execute: a step of assigning uniquenumerical data to a user; and a creating step of creating a characterstring from the numerical data such that two consecutive characters areassigned to the different keys.
 9. A storage medium storing the controlprogram defined in claim 8.